Sometimes, there's an itch before a rash appears. But typically, eczema shows itself as:
Patches of chronically itchy, dry, thickened skin, usually on the hands, neck, face, and legs. In children, the inner creases of the knees and elbows are often involved.
Skin lesions, patches of redness, scaling and in dark-skinned people, changes in skin color.
Call Your Doctor If:
You develop an otherwise unexplained rash and have a family history of eczema or asthma. You should have a medical diagnosis of the condition.
The inflammation does not respond within a week to treatment with over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. A physician may suggest more aggressive forms of treatment.
You develop yellowish to light brown crust or pus-filled blisters over existing patches of eczema. This may indicate a bacterial infection that should be treated with an antibiotic.
During a flare-up of eczema, you are exposed to anyone with a viral skin disease such as cold sores, genital warts, or genital herpes. Having eczema puts you at increased risk of contracting the viral disorder.
You develop numerous small, fluid-filled blisters. You may have eczema herpeticum, a rare but potentially serious complication caused by the herpes simplex virus.
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