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Make this my homepageEczema
Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin that can occur at anytime, anywhere on the body, but often on the hands and face, behind the knees and in the creases of the elbows and wrists. It varies in type, with atopic eczema being the most common, and it varies in intensity. Sometimes skin can be itchy, dry and red, and in severe cases it can be weepy and bleeding, and you should consult a doctor.
Atopic eczema
Atopic eczema is thought to run in families and mainly affects children. It can begin in babies from six weeks old and can continue throughout childhood. The exact cause of atopic eczema is not known, but it often occurs in people who are prone to allergies ('atopic' means sensitive to allergens). Some people are only mildly affected, with small areas of dry, occasionally itchy skin, while others have more severe symptoms, such as cracked, sore and bleeding skin. Approximately two thirds of children will have 'grown out' of atopic eczema by puberty.
Sources
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-(atopic)/Pages/Introduction.aspx (last accessed May 2010)
