1. The Most Common Skin Condition
Of all types of eczema, atopic dermatitis is the most common and effects up to 20 percent of the world's population. It is most often an inherited condition that comes and goes throughout one's life. Atopic eczema generally appears in young children between 2 and 18 months of age and often affects the torso, ears, face and neck. As the children grow, it begins to affect the skin inside the elbows and knees as well as the ankles, wrists and upper eyelids.
2. Coming Into Contact With Eczema
Contact dermatitis is the second most common form of eczema and is caused when allergens or chemicals come into contact with the skin, causing irritation. Contact dermatitis happens to most people in their lifetime, but is a short-lived condition, often clearing up on it's own. In some cases, contact dermatitis begins after long-time contact with mild irritants such as soaps and lotions, sweat and even saliva and urine. In other cases, contact eczema can form as a reaction to poison oak, ivy and sumac or allergen found in construction materials, deodorants, medications, cosmetics or cleaning supplies.
3. Eczema With a Conditional Cause
When blood circulation becomes limited, it stops the flow of fluids to the skin cells, causing tissue damage and dermatitis, which can lead to a variety of forms of eczema. For example, stasis dermatitis is a form of eczema that involves open ulcers and dry, itchy, flaking skin on the legs. Stasis dermatitis is most common in conditions that cause fluid to build in the legs, such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Varicose eczema is similar to stasis dermatitis but is caused by fluid blockage due to varicose veins.
4. Dandruff, Dry Skin and Dermatitis
There are two forms of eczema that are caused due to underactive sebaceous glands, or the glands that create the skin's natural oils. Asteatotic eczema usually begins in the lower legs where there are fewer sebaceous glands and causes the skin to crack. While it can affect people of all ages, it is most common in the elderly living in warm, low-humidity environments. Cradle-cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a form of eczema that causes flaking skin on the scalp, around the nose and neck and is most commonly caused by a fungus that affects the sebaceous glands.
5. The Many Faces of Eczema
Aside from the common forms of eczema here are many other forms, as the term is used to describe just about any type of skin irritation. Damage due to excessive scratching, skin irritation due to candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot or latex allergy as well as allergic reaction to metal from wearing earrings or other jewelry are all considered types of eczema.
