The word eczema is most commonly confused with a single skin disease which it is not. It is in fact a group of skin problems which are characterized by the presence of inflammation and irritation on the skin of the affected individual. There are a number of eczema types but the most common of the lot is atopic eczema. It generally affects children below the age of 7 years. Almost 1 out of every 6 children is affected by this skin problem. But most of them get rid of this problem long before they traverse their teenage years.

The three types of eczema are allergic to contact eczema, irritant contact eczema and finally atopic eczema. All these eczema types have different symptoms associated with them. For instance, the condition of atopic eczema is characterized by red and dry skin, continuous itching of the affected parts, blisters filled with water found all over the body and the like. There are some areas of the body which get really affected by atopic eczema. Back of the knees, front parts of the elbows, neck, face and chest are primarily the main regions where atopic eczema has a strong effect. This skin problem is not contagious and people should be well-informed about the same.

The reason why atopic eczema occurs has not been deciphered totally as yet but ongoing studies seem to suggest that genetics might play an important role in the occurrence of the disease. Certain medical practitioners tend to believe that the condition is caused by the body’s allergic reaction to some chemical compound. Some of these allergens are generally found in food items like eggs, milk, soya and peanuts. Some of the other causes for atopic eczema include allergens found in flower pollen, dust mites and pet hair. Certain medicines which might work absolutely fine for one individual might cause allergic reactions in other people. Basically these allergens which activate the person’s reaction are labeled as atopics. The reaction is initiated in the body of the individual when he/she comes in contact with the chemical. Some of the factors which can act as a complementing factor to this problem are found to be stress and genetic problems. These factors can result in accelerating the condition to such levels that the person might be forced to take sedatives and immediate treatment.