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Your Eczema Toolkit

Trusted information and practical tools to help you understand eczema, explore treatment options, and manage everyday life.

At a Glance: Eczema Toolkit

  • Eczema defined. Eczema is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition that causes dry, itchy, inflamed and bumpy patches that can crack, weep or crust over. Its most common form is atopic dermatitis (AD). 
  • Types of eczema. There are seven types: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, neurodermatitis, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. 
  • Impact. Eczema isn’t contagious or life-threatening, but the relentless itch, lost sleep and visible skin can take a real physical and emotional toll. Most people with AD report daily itch, and adults have up to a three times higher risk of anxiety and depression. 
  • Resources. Explore our full Eczema Toolkit — medically reviewed pages, podcasts, webinars, in-depth articles and downloadable stats — plus dedicated content and resources on eczema in skin of color. 

Is your skin dry, itchy, red or inflamed – with patches that flare up, calm down, and come back again? You could have eczema, a chronic skin condition that affects more than 31 million people in the United States. 

Eczema is not just one condition – there are seven types: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, neurodermatitis, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. See all seven types in our visual guide -> 

The most common type is atopic dermatitis, which happens when an overactive immune system meets a weakened skin barrier that lets moisture escape and irritants, allergens, and bacteria get in. 

Eczema often runs in families and frequently appears alongside other allergic conditions like asthma, food allergy and allergic rhinitis. It affects every age and every skin tone – and it can look very different on darker skin than on lighter skin. 

This toolkit brings together everything we offer on eczema – medically reviewed pages, podcasts, webinars, in-depth articles and downloadable resources – to help you understand your skin and live well with the condition. 

Q&A Intro Podcasts Eczema Articles Eczema Webinars Eczema Downloads

Eczema is a chronic condition that makes patches of skin dry, itchy, and inflamed. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. Learn what eczema is →

It appears as dry, bumpy, inflamed patches – red or pink on lighter skin, and brown, purple, or ashen gray on darker skin. See eczema in skin of color →

Eczema stems from an overactive immune response and weakened skin barrier. Flares are set off by triggers like dry weather, allergens, harsh soaps, fragrances, sweat, and stress. Read about eczema causes and triggers →

Eczema is not contagious. Eczema cannot be spread from person to person by touch or any other kind of contact.

Daily moisturizing is the foundation, with prescription creams, biologics, pills or phototherapy added based on severity. Explore eczema treatment options →

There’s no cure for eczema, but most people can control flares and calm the itch with treatment. Many children see improvement in their eczema as they grow. Get tips for living with eczema →

Podcasts on Eczema

Our eczema podcast series – created with board-certified allergist and immunologist Payel Gupta, MD, and eczema patient advocate Kortney Kwong Hong – tackles everything from diagnosis to daily management, with special attention to eczema in skin of color.

Articles on Eczema

Get the latest eczema news, expert Q&As and webinar recordings — from new treatments to tips for managing flares and living well with the condition.

Webinars on Eczema

Get the latest eczema news, expert Q&As and webinar recordings — from new treatments to tips for managing flares and living well with the condition.

Conditions that can look like eczema 

Several skin and immune conditions cause rashes, itching, or swelling that get mistaken for eczema. They differ in what triggers them, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated. If a rash is not responding to eczema treatment, ask a board-certified allergist or dermatologist whether one of these could be the cause: 

  • Aquagenic urticaria causes hives after contact with water.
  • Celiac disease can cause dermatitis herpetiformis, an intensely itchy blistering rash.
  • Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is hives lasting six weeks or longer with no identifiable trigger.
  • Chronic urticaria (hives) causes welts that move around, with individual welts usually fading within 24 hours.
  • Cold urticaria brings on hives, swelling, and welts after exposure to cold.
  • Contact dermatitis is actually a form of eczema, but it is triggered by an allergen or irritant touching the skin rather than by atopic disease.
  • Hereditary angioedema (HAE) causes deep swelling without hives or itching, and does not respond to antihistamines or corticosteroids.
  • Mast cell diseases, including mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome, can cause unexplained skin rashes along with other body-wide symptoms.
  • Primary immunodeficiency diseases include several disorders that produce severe, treatment-resistant eczema-like rashes starting in infancy.
  • Psoriasis produces thick, sharply defined, scaly plaques, often on elbows, knees, and scalp.
  • Rosacea causes flushing, lasting changes in skin color, and sometimes acne-like bumps on the face, often with burning or stinging.
  • Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, producing a rash with intense itching that often worsens at night.
  • Seborrheic dermatitis is a form of eczema that causes flaky, sometimes greasy patches on the scalp, face, and other oily areas of the skin.

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