The term eczema refers to a number of different skin conditions characterized by red, irritated skin that becomes moist and oozing, occasionally resulting in small, fluid-filled bumps.

Atopic dermatitis, sometimes called infantile eczema, is a common form of this condition, affecting 10% to 12% of children. Typically, symptoms appear within the first few months of life, and they almost always appear before age 5.

The word atopic describes conditions that occur when someone is overly sensitive to allergens in their environment. Although atopic dermatitis is not necessarily caused by an allergic reaction, it often appears in infants and young children who have (or will develop) allergies, hay fever, or asthma or who have a family history of these conditions.

Another form of dermatitis called contact dermatitis is caused by direct skin contact with an irritating substance, such as a metal, medicine, or soap. However, some environmental factors (such as excessive heat or emotional stress) can also trigger the condition. In some cases, environmental allergens such as pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, and certain foods can aggravate the contact dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is not contagious, so there's no need to keep a baby or child who has this condition away from siblings or other children.

Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms can vary widely in what's known as the first phase of atopic dermatitis. Between 2 and 6 months of age (and almost always before age of 5), children with atopic dermatitis usually develop itchy, dry, red skin and small bumps on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp. Children often try to relieve the itching by rubbing the affected areas with a hand, pillow, or anything within reach. The rash may spread to the arms and trunk, and red, crusted lesions may appear on the face, scalp, arms, or legs. Also, these symptoms tend to worsen and improve over time, with flare-ups occurring periodically.

Atopic dermatitis is the most severe and long-lasting form of dermatitis. In many cases, the condition goes into remission, and symptoms can subside for months or even years. For many children, the condition begins to improve by the age of 5 or 6; others may experience flare-ups throughout adolescence and early adulthood. In some children, the condition may improve and then resurface at the onset of puberty when hormones, stress, and irritating skin products or cosmetics are introduced. Some patients will experience some degree of dermatitis into adulthood.

These later phases of the condition are characterized by the following symptoms:

• Second phase: This phase typically occurs between the ages of 4 and 10 (although second-phase lesions often appear in infancy) and is characterized by circular, slightly raised, itchy, and scaly eruptions in the bends of the elbows, behind the knees, or on the backs of the wrists and ankles. Usually the rash is less oozy and scalier than it was during the first phase, and the skin is extremely itchy and dry. Scratching can worsen the rash and eventually lead to thickened, brownish areas on the skin. This is why atopic dermatitis is often called the "itch that rashes" rather than the "rash that itches."
• Third phase: This phase typically (but not always) subsides by early adulthood. Symptoms include areas of itching and a dry, scaly appearance.

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