Eczema comes with dry, cracked, red, and itchy skin. But several other skin conditions can look like eczema when they aren't. (Photo Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/Science Source)
Eczema is a group of conditions that can make your skin irritated, inflamed, and itchy. Your doctor may call it atopic dermatitis, which is also the most common type of eczema. You’re more likely to get eczema when you’re a child, but adults can get it too.
The symptoms you he and where they show up on your body vary from person to person. You might he one or more of these signs:
ItchingDry, sensitive skinRough or scaly areasRed patches on white skinGray or violet-brown patches on dark skinOozing or crusty skin from scratchingSwellingSeveral common skin conditions can look like eczema, so it’s important to talk to your primary care doctor, a dermatologist, or an allergist to find out what’s going on with your skin. They may need to run tests, such as:
BiopsiesCulturesScrapingsPatch testsThey might tell you that you he one of these conditions that looks similar to eczema but isn’t:
Psoriasis
This long-term condition is partly due to your immune system attacking your skin by mistake. Both psoriasis and eczema can bring on symptoms such as:
Red, scaly patchesDry, cracked skinItchingEczema patches tend to be thinner than psoriasis patches. Another difference is that fluid can ooze from your skin with eczema.
Scabies
This contagious condition happens when tiny bugs called mites burrow into the top layer of your skin and lay eggs. You might he symptoms such as bad itching and a rash that looks like pimples. Like eczema, you could also get scaly-looking patches.
Unlike eczema, itching from scabies tends to get worse at night. You also might see a few tiny raised and crooked lines that look gray-white or flesh-colored on parts of your skin where the mites burrow.
Hives
These red or pink welts can be large or small. They might show up alone or in a big group. Like eczema, they usually itch. Unlike eczema, they tend to go away within 24 hours -- although new ones can quickly show up and may continue to do so for weeks or longer. Another difference is that hives can lead to swelling of your lips, eyelids, and throat.