What is eczema?

Eczema can look like several other skin conditions, so it's important a healthcare professional, normally a GP or a nurse, diagnoses your child's eczema. It's their job to help you understand your child's condition, so don't be afraid to ask them questions.

Put simply, eczema is a dry, itchy, red skin condition. Typically eczema comes and goes in a cycle of flare-ups and periods of remission, although for some children the amount of time between flare-ups can be very short. However, eczema can vary a lot.

It can appear on different parts of the body:

On the face (when children are very young -
normally under 2 years)
In the bends of elbows and behind the knees
All over the body – as it can be widespread

And can look very different:

Sometimes it can be dry and cracked
At other times it can be weepy and crusty

In this section you can find answers to some of the common questions people have

What causes eczema? »