Eczema (atopic dermatitis): symptoms, triggers, treatment and skin care
What eczema is, how it looks in babies, children and adults, common triggers, daily skin care, the treatments a dermatologist uses, and when to get help.
Also known as: Atopic Dermatitis; Dermatitis
What eczema is
Eczema is a group of conditions that make the skin dry, itchy and inflamed. The most common form is atopic dermatitis, often simply called eczema. It usually starts in babies or young children, though it can begin at any age and can continue into adulthood.
In atopic eczema, the skin barrier — the outer layer that keeps moisture in and irritants out — does not work as well as it should, and the immune system in the skin is overreactive. This makes the skin dry and easily irritated, and scratching damages it further, setting up an itch-scratch cycle.
Eczema is not contagious and not caused by poor hygiene. It tends to come and go in flares. Many children improve as they grow, and with good daily care most people can keep it under control. Other types include contact dermatitis, caused by something touching the skin, and hand eczema.
Symptoms
- Itching, often intense and worse at night, disturbing sleep
- Dry skin that feels rough or scaly
- Red or dark patches; on brown skin, patches may look dark brown, purple or grey rather than red
- Oozing or crusting during flares, especially if infected
- Thickened skin with deeper lines from long-term scratching
- Dark or light marks after flares settle, which usually fade over time
In babies, eczema often appears on the cheeks, scalp and outer arms and legs. In older children and adults it is common in the creases of the elbows and knees, on the neck, hands, wrists and around the eyes.
Causes, triggers and who is at risk
Eczema runs in families and is linked to asthma, hay fever and food allergy, often called the atopic tendency. Common triggers for flares include:
- Soaps, detergents, bubble baths and fragranced products
- Very hot baths or showers
- Sweat and heat, as well as dry, cold weather
- Rough or woollen clothing
- Dust mites, pet dander and pollen
- Stress and illness
- Skin infections
Food allergy can worsen eczema in some infants, but food is not the main cause for most people. Removing many foods without testing can harm a child's nutrition, so discuss any diet changes with a doctor.
How it is diagnosed
Eczema is usually diagnosed with a skin examination and a history of itching, dry skin and the pattern of rash, along with family history of eczema, asthma or allergies. No blood test confirms it.
If a substance touching the skin is suspected, patch testing can identify contact allergies, for example to nickel, fragrances, hair dye or rubber. A skin swab may be taken if infection is suspected. Allergy tests for food are only useful when there is a clear history of reactions, because positive results without symptoms are common.
Which doctor to see
A dermatologist diagnoses eczema, works out triggers and offers the full range of treatments. A paediatrician often manages eczema in babies and young children and can refer to a dermatologist when it is severe or not settling. See a doctor if eczema is affecting sleep, school or work, if it spreads, or if you think it is infected.
You can find dermatologists in Bengaluru and paediatricians on The Doctor Index.
Treatment
Daily skin care
Emollients (moisturisers) are the foundation of treatment and should be used every day, even when the skin looks clear. Apply them generously several times a day, especially after bathing, in the direction of hair growth. Thicker creams and ointments work better than light lotions. Use a mild soap substitute, bathe in lukewarm water, pat the skin dry and apply moisturiser straight away.
Creams for flares
Topical steroids of the right strength, used as directed, calm flares quickly and are safe when prescribed properly. Weaker ones are used on the face and in skin folds; stronger ones on thicker skin. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, are non-steroid creams useful for the face and for long-term control.
Other treatments
Antibiotics are used if the skin is infected. Antihistamines that cause drowsiness are sometimes used at night for sleep, though they do little for the itch itself. For moderate to severe eczema that does not respond to creams, options include phototherapy with controlled ultraviolet light, tablets that suppress the immune system, and newer injectable treatments such as dupilumab or targeted tablets. These need specialist supervision and monitoring.
Living with eczema
Keep nails short, wear soft cotton clothing, and wash new clothes before wearing them. Avoid known triggers and fragranced products. Keep a moisturiser handy at school or work. Make a plan with your doctor for what to do when a flare starts. Eczema can affect sleep, mood and confidence for both children and parents, so mention this; support helps.
When it is urgent
Eczema is rarely an emergency, but some complications need same-day care. See a doctor urgently for painful, rapidly spreading eczema with clusters of small blisters or punched-out sores, especially with fever — this can be a herpes infection called eczema herpeticum, which can be serious. Call 112 or 108 if a child with eczema becomes very unwell, drowsy or has difficulty breathing, or if anyone has swelling of the lips or throat after eating a food.
Questions to ask at your appointment
- What type of eczema is this, and what might be triggering it?
- Which moisturiser should I use, and how much?
- Which steroid cream should I use where, and for how long?
- How do I recognise an infection?
- Are any allergy tests useful in my case?
- What options are there if creams are not enough?
Common questions
Questions people ask
- Is eczema contagious?
- No. Eczema cannot be passed from one person to another. It is caused by a combination of a weak skin barrier, an overactive immune response in the skin and inherited tendency. Infected eczema can spread germs, but the eczema itself is not catching.
- Are steroid creams safe for my child?
- Yes, when prescribed by a doctor and used in the right strength, place and amount for the right length of time. Problems usually come from strong creams used for long periods without supervision. Ask your doctor to explain exactly how to use each cream.
- Will my child grow out of eczema?
- Many children improve significantly as they get older, and some clear completely. Others continue to have eczema into adulthood, though it may become milder. Good daily skin care and prompt treatment of flares help at every age.
- Should I stop giving my child milk or eggs?
- Not without medical advice. Food allergy affects eczema in some infants, but it is not the main cause in most children. Cutting out foods without proper assessment can affect growth and nutrition. Your doctor can advise whether testing is worthwhile.
This condition is usually assessed by a dermatologist. Every profile shows the doctor’s registration and what has been checked.
Dermatologists in Bangalore
A few dermatologists listed on The Doctor Index. They are shown because of their speciality, not a stated interest in Eczema; ask the clinic whether the doctor sees it.
Related conditions
Practical reading
All postsSources
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine — Eczema
- American Academy of Dermatology — Eczema resource centre
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine — Eczema — Public-domain health-topic summary
- Human Phenotype Ontology Consortium — terminology definitions — HPO licence; definitions reproduced without alteration
Eczema (atopic dermatitis): symptoms, triggers, treatment and skin care is original text by The Doctor Index; the compiled source draft was used for research. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999; July 2026 data, CC BY 4.0. This product uses the Human Phenotype Ontology (hp/releases/2026-09-01). Only sources listed for this article apply. Source material has been selected and arranged; HPO definitions are reproduced without alteration. No source organisation endorses this compilation. Köhler S et al. The Human Phenotype Ontology project: linking molecular biology and disease through phenotype data. Nucleic Acids Research 2014;42(D1):D966–D974. doi:10.1093/nar/gkt1026.
General information, not advice about your situation. Errors can be reported through the corrections process. Reference TDI-C-0814.