Symptoms of Eczema and Dermatitis
Whatever causes your eczema, it leads to itching and redness, and may make the skin dry and flaky. Sometimes, itchy blisters form. When these burst, or when scratching damages the skin, the surface may be left moist and crusty.
In the commonest form of eczema (atopic eczema), the problem is worst in the folds of the skin where your limbs bend.
Mild Symptoms
Small areas of dry skin, which are occasionally itchy.
Severe Symptoms
Cracked, sore and bleeding skin.
Depression with low self-esteem
Difficulty coping in everyday situation.
Herpes, skin fungal and wart infections.
Your doctor will usually come to the diagnosis from examining you. If in doubt, or if he or she feels that you need further tests, then you may be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist).
Further tests may include blood tests, patch tests (where little patches of different substances are stuck to your skin for a few days, to see if you react to any of them) and other allergy tests.
Treatment
There is essentially no cure for eczema. It involves a sensitivity of the skin that you are likely to have to some degree from now on. There are, however, a number of approaches which help to minimise your symptoms.
