The Types of Eczema Explained
If you’re an eczema sufferer, you might be wondering what type of eczema you have and what the differences are.
There are several types of eczema, and each type has its own characteristics.
The most common and usually referred to is Atopic Eczema. For a thorough explanation of Atopic Eczema, please visit our “What Causes Eczema” article.
The eczema types listed below are not as common as Atopic Eczema, but are some of the types that a lot of people do suffer from.
Dyshidrotic Eczema:
This type of eczema is less common than the other types of eczema. Dyshidrotic means “bad sweating”.
Dyshidrotic eczema is extremely itchy and is characterized by small fluid-filled bumps or vesicles which usually appear on the sides of the fingers and toes and also on the palms and bottom of feet.
Another name for dyshidrotic eczema is pompholyx eczema.
Nummular Eczema:
Nummular means “coin-shaped”.
Nummular eczema is characterized by round, scaly lesions which typically appear on the limbs.
It was thought to be caused by an allergy to nickel and is often associated with dry skin, but like with most eczemas, it is difficult to pin point the exact cause for it.
Another name for nummular eczema is discoid eczema.
Seborrheic Eczema:
Seborrheic eczema is characterized by white, yellowish, or gray greasy or oily skin lesions. The lesions are usually located on the scalp, hairline, face, or ears.
If your baby has what is called “cradle cap”, this is a type of seborrheic eczema.
Contact Eczema:
The key term in this type of eczema is “contact”.
Contact eczema occurs when the skin comes in contact with a substance outside of the body known as an allergen or irritant.
The result is redness, itching, and burning of the “contact” area of the skin.
A good example of this type of eczema is the weeping, red, and itchy rash or eczema caused by poison ivy.
You might also have eczema that is on a particular part of your body.
There are many other variations or types of eczema that are also named by the location that it appears on the body such as hand eczema and face eczema.
Eczemas are also referred to by the age of the person it affects. For example, there is adult eczema, infantile eczema, and childhood eczema.
For further help with identifying what type of eczema you may have, please visit our eczema images page.
No matter what type of eczema you have, it is one of the most irritating and frustrating conditions.
The good new is that you don’t have to live another day with eczema.
To find out more about not just treating the symptoms of eczema but fixing the root cause, visit our article “How to Cure Eczema”.
