Symptoms of Eczema (atopic)

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In the acute form (flare- ups):

The skin will be extremely itchy, red, hot, dry and scaly
The skin may also be wet and weeping and swollen
There may be infection with bacteria (usually staphylococcus)
The most common areas affected are the skin creases such as the front of the elbows and wrists, backs of knees and around the neck. However, any areas of skin may be affected. The common area for babies to be affected is the face and scalp, while the hands are a common site in adult.

In the chronic form (persistent):

The skin will be dry and thickened and may be scaly or cracked, as a result of continual scratching.

Your skin is vulnerable to further damage and infection when you have atopic ezcema, it is more likely to be sensitive to and react more easily to certain substances. These trigger factors will make you particularly vulnerable to a flare ups.

Itchiness and heat cause a strong urge to scratch, which further damages the skin. The scratching can disrupt sleep and may be so severe as to make the area bleed. Scratching can make an itch worse and an itch-scratch cycle may develop with regular scratching. In children this can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty concentrating at school.