While eczema is a common skin condition, it can manifest in many different ways. And with so much possible variation, it's not always easy to properly identify eczema.
Eczema symptoms can be mild -- a small patch of itchy, dry, red or pink textured skin -- or they can be severe, Dr. Shasa Hu, associate professor in the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told TODAY.com previously.
Patients are often surprised that they can develop eczema later in life. "When I tell them 'Oh, this is eczema,' they get surprised because they never had eczema as a child," she says. But there are multiple forms of eczema, Hu says, and they can start to affect you as a child, as an adult or even later in life.
It's also easy for people to be confused about eczema because the condition can mimic so many other types of rashes, Hu says. Depending on the type of eczema and where it is on the body, patients often come to her assuming they have ringworm or another skin infection rather than eczema.
Frequently, patients have already tried to treat the rash on their own with harsh products, Hu says, which only makes their skin more inflamed.
But the truth is that eczema is "very prevalent," Hu says. And it comes in several different forms. Being able to identify the condition is the first step in properly treating it -- without exacerbating your symptoms.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists several different types of eczema. Here's what to know about those conditions -- and eczema pictures to help you figure out what your skin is trying to tell you.
When people colloquially say "eczema" they're typically referring to atopic dermatitis. Often called "the itch that rashes," atopic dermatitis symptoms typically include patches of red, dry, inflamed skin, the AAD says.
"Atopic dermatitis is really just inflamed skin or skin that's been compromised," Hu says. There's often also an allergic component to the reaction due to ingredients in skin-care products, she says.
This happens because, in people with atopic dermatitis, the skin's natural moisture barrier doesn't function as well, according to the AAD. Normally, this barrier both keeps moisture in the skin and protects the skin from potential irritants or pathogens. But, if someone has eczema, their skin barrier lets moisture escape, causing the skin to become dry and sensitive.
Experts still don't fully understand why people get atopic dermatitis. "Scientists haven't really determined the cause of eczema. It's believed to be a mix of environmental and genetic factors," Dr. Kemunto Mokaya, a board-certified dermatologist in Texas, told TODAY.com previously.
Contact dermatitis occurs when something touches your skin that causes a reaction. The resulting rash may be itchy, raised, stinging or blistering. It should only appear in the area.
There are two forms of contact dermatitis: allergic and irritant dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by an allergic reaction to something like poison ivy or nickel, TODAY.com explained previously.
Irritant dermatitis develops when a particular substance irritates the skin, but this isn't due to an allergy. For instance, if sweat or hand soap builds up under a tight watch band or ring, that may lead to an irritant dermatitis rash.
Regardless of the cause, both types of contact dermatitis rashes tend to look and feel similar. Contact dermatitis rashes often appear in a linear pattern and they can blister, Dr. Shari Lipner, associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, told TODAY.com previously.
In the case of a nickel allergy, for example, "you'll see it where the button of the jeans would be, so it'd be a circular area around the belly button," Lipner explained.
Nummular eczema, also called discoid eczema, is a type of eczema rash that shows up in a distinctive round pattern. The rashes may be itchy, red and raised ovals, the AAD says, and there may be multiple patches that eventually combine.
Certain people are more likely than others to develop this type of eczema, including those who already have other types of eczema and those with especially dry skin. Nummular eczema can be triggered by specific issues, like a bug bite, cut or scrape on the skin.
With prompt treatment, nummular eczema can clear in as little as three to four weeks, the AAD says. But once you develop this condition, it may return. Flare-ups of nummular eczema may be linked to certain triggers, like stress, medications or sensitivity to something touching your skin.
This type of eczema appears a little differently than others. Dyshydrotic eczema causes tiny blisters that are very itchy and typically only occur in certain areas of the body: the hands and feet, the AAD says.
While some people only get dyshydrotic eczema once in their life, others may get multiple flare-ups over their lifetime. For some, this type of eczema is a chronic condition that affects their daily life.
Flares of disydrotic eczema can be related to seasonal changes, such as sweating more during the hot summer months. Other triggers include products like hand soaps and shampoo, as well as stress or sensitivity to metals, like nickel and cobalt, the AAD says.
Identifying and avoiding your triggers as much as possible is often a core part of treatment for dyshydrotic eczema, which often requires consulting a dermatologist. They may also help you create a home treatment plan or prescribe medications to manage the itchiness and heal your skin.
Neurodermatitis, also called lichen simplex chronicus, is an intensely itchy form of eczema.
The condition typically starts with an itchy patch of skin, but scratching the itch only makes the skin itchier. The itchiness may be more severe at night or when you're feeling relaxed.
Over time, the itchy patch of skin becomes raised and thickens, the AAD says. The skin can also become painful from itching, or it may bleed and even become infected.
People generally only develop one or two patches of neurodermatitis. It is possible to have more than that, but it's rare, the AAD explains. The back of the neck is one of the most common spots to have a neurodermatitis patch.
Treating neurodermatitis generally requires breaking the itch-scratch-itch cycle, which may be challenging. Prescription medications as well as home remedies (like a cool compress or moisturizer), the AAD says.
Stasis dermatitis is most commonly seen in the lower legs because it's related to having poor blood flow, the AAD says.
As we age, the valves in the lower legs that are responsible for pushing blood up to the heart weaken. That causes fluid to leak out and swell in the ankles, the AAD explains. This situation, called venous insufficiency, should be treated by a doctor.
When people develop swelling and itchy, reddish, dry skin alongside venous insufficiency, it's called stasis dermatitis. The condition most commonly affects the lower legs and ankles. The affected skin may thicken and bleed easily.
Treating stasis dermatitis early may make it easier to manage and reduce the symptoms, the AAD explains. Compression socks may help reduce the swelling, for instance, and medications will ease the itchiness.
A type of eczema that frequently affects the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis leads to itchiness, flakiness and red, inflamed patches of skin. The condition can also cause greasiness and a crust or cracks to form on the skin, the AAD says.
While it most often occurs on the scalp or around facial or body hair, seborrheic dermatitis can also appear in skin folds, like in the armpits, belly button or around the ears.
"The symptoms are almost identical to eczema," dermatologist Dr. Debra Wattenberg told TODAY.com previously. "You can have itchiness and dryness, and those who are prone to atopic dermatitis can be more itchy on the scalp than those who aren't."
Seborrheic dermatitis is the technical term for what we colloquially call dandruff, Hu says, and it's something dermatologists see almost every day. Dandruff is typically considered the mildest form of seborrheic dermatitis.
You don't need to rush to your doctor's office for every little rash, dermatologists say. But it is important to seek a proper diagnosis -- especially if your rash isn't getting better, it covers a large amount of your or if it's very itchy or painful.
And any time you get a new rash, it's important to pay attention.
Many rashes "can look similar to each other, (but) sometimes they can be very different diagnoses and have different causes," Dr. Nada Elbuluk, associate professor of clinical dermatology and founding director of the Skin of Color & Pigmentary Disorders Program at USC's Keck School of Medicine, told TODAY.com previously.
Keep in mind that certain skin conditions -- including eczema -- may look different in skin of color, Elbuluk explained. While skin inflammation may look red or pink in lighter skin tones, it can appear more purple, reddish brown or dark brown in those with darker skin tones.
If you already know you have eczema, you may be able to manage and prevent flare-ups at home with a dedicated routine that avoids triggers and supports your natural skin barrier.
However using the wrong over-the-counter remedy may make your symptoms worse. So, if you have a new rash that isn't improving, it's worth talking to your doctor or dermatologist for guidance.