Common symptoms of eczema include dry skin, itching (also called “pruritus”), red to brownish-gray patches, bumps that may leak fluid and crust over, and raw/swollen skin from scratching (Mayo Clinic 2020). These dry patches of skin are typically found on the hands, feet, ankle, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, and inside the bends of your elbows and knees. 

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema and typically appears during childhood and goes away by adulthood. Many people with this type also have asthma and hay fever (the three conditions together are referred to as an atopic triad) (Healthline 2020). Contact dermatitis occurs when skin comes in contact with an irritant and becomes inflamed. When someone intensely itches their skin and actually ends up damaging nerve endings in the skin, this is referred to as neurodermatitis. Dyshidrotic eczema displays small fluid filled blisters on a person’s fingers, palms, toes, and feet that can leave the skin looking cracked and scaly. Nummular eczema is unique in that it looks like coin-shaped spots that are triggered by bites, dry skin, or chemical burns. Seborrheic dermatitis is another type of eczema that presents itself near oil-producing areas on the back, nose, scalp, and more and could be related to hormone and stress levels. Finally, stasis dermatitis results from reduced blood flow in the veins and fluid leaking out of the veins (Eczema HQ 2021).