The symptoms of atopic eczema may always be present. Symptoms become worse during a flare-up, and you or your child may need stronger treatment when this happens.
Atopic eczema can cause your skin to become:
- itchy
- dry
- red
- broken
- thickened
- cracked
During a flare-up, your skin may be:
- extremely itchy, red, hot, dry and scaly
- wet, weeping and swollen
- infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus (see Atopic eczema - complications)
The symptoms of atopic eczema vary according to how severely you or your child are affected by the condition.
People with mild atopic eczema normally have only small areas of dry skin, which are occasionally itchy. In more severe cases, atopic eczema can cause widespread dry skin, constant itching and oozing fluid.
Scratching can disrupt your sleep and make your skin bleed. It can also make itching worse, and a cycle of itching and regular scratching may develop. In children, this can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty concentrating at school.
Where atopic eczema occurs
Atopic eczema can occur in small patches all over the body. It is most common:
- in infants: on the face and scalp, and on the outer surface of the arms and legs
- in children: around joints on the arms and legs, such as the folds of the elbows or the backs of the knees
- in adults: in the joints, such as inside the elbows or the backs of the knees, and on the hands