Atopic eczema – NHS Choices

Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common form of eczema. It mainly affects children, but can continue into adulthood.

Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It is a long-term, or chronic, condition.

Atopic eczemacommonly occurs in areas with folds of skin, such as:

Atopic eczema can vary in severity andmost people are only mildly affected. Severe symptoms include cracked, sore and bleeding skin.

People with atopic eczema usuallyhave periods when symptoms are less noticeable, as well as flare-ups when symptoms become more severe, needing additional treatment.

Read more about thesymptoms of atopic eczema.

The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown. However, it often occurs in people whogetallergies ("atopic" means sensitivity to allergens).

Atopic eczema can run in families and often occurs alongside other conditions, such asasthma and hay fever.

Readmore information about thecauses of atopic eczema.

Atopic eczema clears up or significantly improves in many childrenas they get older. Inabout 53%of cases,atopic eczema clears up by the timea child reaches 11 years of age, and in 65% of cases it clears up by 16 years of age.

Excerpt from:
Atopic eczema - NHS Choices