Skin Sense: Could Your Itching Be Excema?

Human skin is an amazing and resilient part of the body, functioning as an immune helper, a waste disposer, and a sensory receptor. The largest organ in the body, its two square yards protect our internal parts, but with such a complex system of follicles, glands, and layers of epithelial cells, there are many chances for things to go wrong. Many people think that a lifetime of itchy, irritated skin is normal, and that the only “real” skin disorders are conditions like psoriasis, keratosis, and acne. It might be surprising to think of an itchy rash as being part of a skin disorder, but many people can suffer from skin problems without even knowing it. In fact, if you’re prone to any kind of recurring, itchy rash, it might not be a simple case of sensitive skin. You might be suffering from a dermatological disorder called eczema.

The Eczema SpectrumEczema isn’t just one specific skin condition; it refers to a whole host of common, non-contagious rashes which range from the mildly irritating to the painfully severe. As a catch-all term, eczema is the most common skin condition in the United States. According to the National Institutes Of Health, up to fifteen million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of eczema, often called "the itch that rashes" because of the way severe itching often precedes the appearance of the skin response. By far, the most common form of eczema is simple atopic dermatitis, characterized by dry, itchy, reddish patches of irritated skin that can appear anywhere on the body. Some other kinds of eczema are mild and fleeting, such as the contact dermatitis caused by allergic reactions to things like poison ivy or soap, or the neurodermatitis that results from an insect bite. Some other forms of eczema are more severe and chronic, such as dyshidrotic eczema, which causes burning, itching blisters to develop on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Even dandruff, whose proper name is seborrheic dermatitis, is sometimes considered an eczema rash.