What is Eczema?

Eczema is a type of skin disease that includes many symptoms. It is rather applied generally instead of being specific to a particular symptom. Referring to a range of persistent skin conditions, eczema includes any or all of the following signs:

• Redness of the skin
• Skin swelling
• Itching and dryness on the affected part
• Crusting of the skin
• Presence of flakes on the affected part
• Blistering and cracking of the skin
• Bleeding

Eczema is a term that is used to refer to clinical conditions. It indicates a disease of the skin and is also called dermatitis. The problem with the term is that it can be applied to many other similar skin conditions that are not really eczema. Moreover, the understanding on the causes as well as the nature of the disease has mostly been haphazard, thus further complicating the picture. Moreover, eczema can be described depending on their location, on their appearance, as well as on the causes of the condition.

Most cases of eczema seem to peak during infancy. However, in case of females, eczema may be common during the reproductive years—something that experts suggest is due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy. However, eczema can also be caused by diet as well as exposure to harmful allergens.