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What Are the Symptoms of Eczema?

The main symptom of eczema is itchy, dry, rough, flakey, inflamed, and irritated skin. It can flare up, subside, and then flare up again.

Eczema can occur anywhere but usually affects the arms, inner elbows, backs of the knees, or head (particularly the cheeks and the scalp). It's not contagious, and, in some cases, becomes less severe with age.

Other symptoms include:

Intense itching
Red or brownish-gray patches
Small, raised bumps that ooze fluid when scratched
Crusty patches of dried yellowish ooze, which can signal infection
Thickened, scaly skin

Scratching eczema further irritates and inflames the skin. This can cause infections that must be treated with antibiotics.

What Is the Main Cause of Eczema?

As with other auto-immune diseases, eczema flare-ups are caused by certain triggers – believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Just as asthma and other allergies involve a reaction to particular allergens that the body perceives as a threat, the over-reactive immune system of an eczema sufferer responds by producing the red, itchy, and inflamed skin symptoms common to most types of eczema. Studies have also shown that some people with eczema have a genetic mutation that affects the production of filaggrin, a protein that helps the very top layer of the skin maintain a healthy protective barrier.