Eczema Images and Descriptions
While eczema images are not pleasant to look at, they can be helpful in identifying the particular type of eczema that you may have.
There are several types of eczema each with its own set of characteristics and symptoms.
This page contains a short definition of each eczema type, its signs and symptoms, and several eczema images in order to help you identify your type of eczema.
The eczema symptoms below can vary in each individual case and just treating your symptoms only provides temporary relief and not a permanent answer.
Visit our page on How to Cure Eczema to find out about a permanent solution.
Atopic Eczema
Atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema is the most common type of eczema and is characterized by an “insane” itching sensation that when scratched turns into the rash we know as eczema.
Atopic eczema occurs in children most frequently and is “hereditary”.
In infants and children, eczema tends to occur on the scalp and face, cheeks, creases of the elbows, creases of the knees, ankles, wrists, neck, and upper chest.
Although these are the most common sites, eczema can also occur anywhere on the skin as well.
The rash is characterized by redness, inflammation, dryness, and cracking. There may also be weeping of fluid, crusting, and scales. Constant scratching can lead to thickening of the skin called lichenification. The eczema images below are typical atopic eczema occurrences.
Contact dermatitis or Contact Eczema
This type of eczema is caused by contact with common objects such as soaps, food, or jewelry that the skin is “allergic” to.
The signs of contact eczema usually occur fairly quickly after the object the person is allergic to comes in contact with the skin.
Symptoms vary and may include itchy, swollen, red skin and sometimes dry and “bumpy” skin. If the reaction is more severe, vesicles or blisters may develop which may burst and then crust.
In the eczema image below, the irritant was poison ivy.
Dishydrotic Eczema
Dyshydrotic eczema typically occurs on the sides of the fingers or toes or on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
This type of eczema is also known as pompholyx eczema or vesicular eczema. It was once thought to be caused by excessive sweating, hence the name. Dyshydrotic means “excessive sweating”.
The most common symptoms are small blisters or vesicles on the sides of the fingers or toes with intense itching. The skin also usually has extreme inflammation. The blisters or vesicles may weep and the affected areas tend to sweat.
Nummular Eczema
Nummular or discoid eczema is another type of eczema which has the characteristic of “coin-shaped” lesions.
The cause of nummular eczema is unknown but it often appears after some type of skin irritation or injury like an insect bite or burn or abrasion.
The lesions can occur on the hands, feet, arms, legs, or trunk of the body. The coin-shaped lesions develop from small blister or vesicle-type spots that grow and form the round patch. The patch can be anywhere from 1/2 an inch to 4 inches. The blisters may weep fluid and then become crust like.
Seborrheic Eczema
This type of eczema is characterized by oily and waxy patches that are whitish to yellowish brown and that usually occur on the scalp and face but have been known to spread beyond the face.
The patches can also be reddish and inflamed.
Another common name for seborrheic eczema is cradle cap which affects infants. Both eczema images are of seborrheic eczema that has occurred in infants (cradle cap).
