Eczema overview

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin.

The term "eczema" is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Areas of temporary skin discoloration are sometimes due to healed lesions, although scarring is rare.