Is It Eczema?

On this page: What does eczema look like? What's the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis? Eczema vs. psoriasis? What does eczema look like on darker skin tones? How is eczema diagnosed? Is eczema contagious?

What does eczema look like?

Eczema typically appears as dry, itchy, red or pink patches of skin that may be rough, scaly, or cracked. In severe flares, the skin can ooze, crust over, or develop small fluid-filled bumps. The most common locations are the insides of the elbows, behind the knees, the hands, the face, and the scalp. The hallmark symptom is intense itching. Dermatologists often say if it's not itchy, it's not eczema.

What's the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis?

Eczema is the everyday word. Atopic dermatitis is the medical term for the most common type. The vast majority of people search for eczema rather than atopic dermatitis, but doctors typically use the clinical term in medical records. Atopic dermatitis is one of seven types of eczema, but it accounts for the vast majority of cases.

Eczema vs. psoriasis, how do I tell them apart?

Eczema and psoriasis can look similar but behave differently. Eczema patches are usually pinkish-red, weepy or moist when severe, intensely itchy, and most often appear in skin folds like the elbows and behind the knees. Psoriasis patches are usually thicker, with silvery-white scales, less itchy but sometimes painful, and most often appear on the outside of elbows, knees, and the scalp. Only a doctor can confirm a diagnosis.

What does eczema look like on darker skin tones?

Eczema can look very different on darker skin. Instead of the redness commonly shown in medical images, eczema on Black, Brown, and South Asian skin may appear as gray, purple, dark brown, or ashen patches. The itching, dryness, and skin texture changes are the same, but the color cues are different, which has historically led to underdiagnosis. After a flare, darker skin often shows lasting hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation that can take months to fade.

How is eczema diagnosed?

There is no specific test for eczema. A doctor, typically a primary care physician, pediatrician, or dermatologist, diagnoses eczema by examining the rash, asking about the pattern of flares, family history of eczema, asthma, or hay fever, and ruling out other conditions. Allergy testing or skin biopsies are sometimes used to rule out other causes, but they are not required to diagnose eczema itself.

Is eczema contagious?

No. Eczema is not contagious. You cannot catch it from someone else, and you cannot pass it to anyone else through touch, sharing a bed, or any other contact. Eczema is caused by a combination of genetics, an overactive immune response, and skin barrier dysfunction. People with eczema can develop secondary skin infections, which can be contagious, but the eczema itself is not.

 

---

The information on this page is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are concerned about your skin or your child's, please talk to a doctor.