What it is
It often runs in families and is linked with asthma and hay fever. It is not contagious.
Daily moisturisers (emollients) are the base of treatment, with steroid creams for flare-ups. Severe eczema may need treatment from a dermatologist, such as light therapy or tablets and injections that calm the immune system.
Common signs
- Dry, itchy, cracked or sore skin
- Patches in skin creases, such as elbows and behind the knees, or on the face in babies
- Flare-ups when the skin gets worse
- Skin that weeps or crusts if infected
How it is usually diagnosed
- Recognised from the skin and history by a GP or dermatologist
- Allergy tests only if a specific trigger is suspected
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Photos of flare-ups with dates
- Your treatment plan and the creams that worked
- Allergy test results
- Dermatology letters
Questions to ask your doctor
- How much cream should I use, and where?
- How do I recognise an infected flare-up?
- When would a referral to a dermatologist help?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Painful, rapidly worsening eczema with clusters of blisters or punched-out sores and fever, which can be a serious herpes infection
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.