Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes itching and other symptoms.
Scratching the affected areas may injure your skin and raise your risk of skin infections. The condition may also negatively affect your mental health and quality of life.
Although there’s currently no cure for eczema, early diagnosis and treatment may help limit symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life.
Eczema can appear at any age, but it typically develops in early childhood. The condition often goes away by adulthood, though some adults do continue to have symptoms.
Certain triggers can make eczema symptoms worse. That’s why identifying and avoiding triggers is important for managing the condition.
Applying moisturizer to your skin may also help limit eczema symptoms. In some cases, a doctor — typically a dermatologist or allergist — may prescribe medicated creams or ointments, antihistamines, light therapy, or other treatments.