Eczema is a condition that causes your skin to become dry, itchy and bumpy. This condition weakens your skin’s barrier function, which is responsible for helping your skin retain moisture and protecting your body from outside elements. There are several types of eczema. Each type has unique triggers that can affect your skin’s barrier function, including Atopic dermatitis, Contact dermatitis, Dyshidrotic eczema, Neurodermatitis, Nummular eczema, Seborrheic dermatitis. It’s possible to have more than one type of eczema at the same time.
Eczema is common and affects 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults in the UK. Infants are prone to eczema, and 10% to 20% will have it. However, nearly half of all infants diagnosed with eczema outgrow the condition or have significant improvement as they get older.
The first signs of eczema are itchiness, dry skin and a rash. These signs indicate that you came into contact with a trigger in your environment that caused your symptoms to start or flare up. Identifying environmental triggers and avoiding them can reduce your risk of an eczema flare-up in your future.