Classifying Your Eczema

Before you can begin treating your eczema, however, you must know what type you have. Though your skin is one large organ, different areas of your body may acquire eczema, and each one can be different from another.

It is important for you to know what type your eczema is classified as and where it can be found before you start treating it. Having all the information possible can help you get the most out of your treatments and free you as much as possible from the annoyances of eczema.    Adult Seborrheic Eczema. If you are between 20 and 40, you can become affected by this type of eczema. Some specialists think this can be caused by yeast. It can begin as mild dandruff, but can spread to other areas such as your face, chest, or ears.

You may find your skin becoming red, inflamed, flakey, and you may also find patches of skin that are scaly, and yellow. You may have also heard this type referred to as seborrheic dermatitis.

Varicose Eczema. If your legs have poor circulation, you could acquire this form of eczema. Late in life you may find itchy and inflamed areas on your lower legs and ankles that appear dappled. It has also been referred to as stasis eczema.

Discoid Eczema. Found in adults, this form of eczema has also been called nummular eczema or gravitational eczema. Patches of skin that can appear almost anywhere on the body, but usually on the torso and lower legs. It appears in disc-shaped itchy spots that can potentially exude fluid.

Dyshidrotic Eczema. This form appears on the hands, fingers, and feet and will arise as blisters that are particularly itchy. Though the cause is not known, there is some speculation on various reasons, and it is believed that stress assists in aggravating the condition further. It can become more serious and lead to fluid seepage and cracking in the skin.

Contact Eczema. Dry flaky and itchy areas can appear due to constant contact with items that continuously irritate your skin or if you happen to be allergic to the item. Chemicals and latex are two possible allergens that can affect people. Avoiding prolonged contact with items that bother your skin can help you recover from this form of eczema.

Light Sensitive Eczema. This is a rare form of eczema that affects a person's hands, arms, and face. Though caused by sunlight, some products such as soaps, creams, and medications can act as catalysts to eczema appearances in sunlight.

Juvenile Plantar Eczema. A form that is more common in males and caused by constant irritation on the soles of feet due to footwear that is not fitting correctly. You may find that the sole of your foot has become sore, red, feels hot, and has a glazed appearance to it. Switch your footwear to make sure feet do not rub against the inside of the shoe to help clear up any problems, wear cotton socks to aid in further prevention, and if necessary, put ointments or other soothing products on feet.

Eczema Craquele. People who are older tend to develop this form of eczema as their skin is thinner and more prone to becoming dried out. It is also known as asteatotic eczema and creates large itchy scales on the skin, sometimes produced because of lingering soap from a shower or bath.

Eczema Herpeticum. When a person already has a form of eczema and he or she becomes infected with the herpes simplex virus, they can develop eczema herpeticum. Small groups of blisters or ulcers appear on the skin and can occur anywhere on the body. If left untreated and allowed to spread, this form of eczema can become fatal.

Atopic Eczema. This is the most common form of eczema and believed to be caused by allergens and other various skin irritants. It can be hereditary and affect both children and adults and appears as itchy, flaky patches of skin that are inflamed, red, and when scratched too often can lead to fluid seepage.    Remember, it is important for you to completely understand your particular form of eczema in order to give yourself the best treatment. The more you know, the closer you are to steering clear of problems now and in the future.