Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsExamTestsTriggersOther ConditionsTreatmentsNext in Eczema GuideHow Eczema Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Exam
Tests
Triggers
Other Conditions
Treatments
Next in Eczema Guide
It’s important to see a healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist or allergist, for an accurate diagnosis. This will ensure you get an appropriate treatment plan to help manage and prevent flare-ups (periods when you have symptoms.)
Symptoms of atopic dermatitis may vary and can look different based on skin tone. They also may come and go, show up in the same spot repeatedly, or occur in new locations.
Signs of eczema may include:
While eczema can appear anywhere on the body, it tends to develop in specific patterns in different age groups. Symptoms can appear very early in life or develop during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Physical Exam
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
An atopic dermatitis (eczema) diagnosis is largely based on a person’s medical history and a visual exam of the skin. Eczema is often diagnosed when a person has three or more of the following “major” and “minor” features of the condition:
Major Features
Minor Features
There is no diagnostic test to detect eczema, but your healthcare provider may still run some to rule out other conditions. This is especially important in cases where the cause of the rash is in question.
Diagnostic testing is needed more often for adults than young children because eczema is common in kids and usually presents in a typical fashion.
Your healthcare provider might recommend one of these tests based on your physical exam:
Can a Blood Test Detect Atopic Dermatitis?There are no biomarkers in blood that indicate eczema. High levels of the IgE molecule have been associated with the condition, but research shows this not a reliable method for diagnosis. That’s because some people with severe eczema have moderate levels of IgE.
Can a Blood Test Detect Atopic Dermatitis?
There are no biomarkers in blood that indicate eczema. High levels of the IgE molecule have been associated with the condition, but research shows this not a reliable method for diagnosis. That’s because some people with severe eczema have moderate levels of IgE.
Many things can cause a reaction that results in an eczema flare-up. Common triggers include:
Other Skin Conditions
Itchy, inflamed skin isn’t always a sign of eczema. Conditions that have symptoms similar to those of atopic dermatitis include:
It’s Okay to Get a Second OpinionIf you have doubts about a diagnosis, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion from another healthcare provider. In some cases, a skin condition may be secondary to another disease and require an entirely different diagnostic approach.
It’s Okay to Get a Second Opinion
If you have doubts about a diagnosis, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion from another healthcare provider. In some cases, a skin condition may be secondary to another disease and require an entirely different diagnostic approach.
Your healthcare provider will recommend atreatment planto help manage your symptoms and prevent flare-ups. In addition to avoiding your individual triggers, this may include any combination of the following.
Skin Care
Medical Treatments
Lifestyle and Eczema
Summary
Eczema is diagnosed with a combination of a visual exam, medical history, and lab tests to rule out other conditions. While it is most common in young children, it can occur in any age group.
Atopic dermatitis is chronic, but it can often be managed with self-care, such as avoiding triggers and keeping skin moisturized. For severe eczema, a healthcare provider may recommend prescription medications.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Atopic dermatitis.Siegfried EC, Hebert AA.Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis: mimics, overlaps, and complications.J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):884-917. doi:10.3390/jcm4050884Abuabara K, Ye M, Margolis DJ, et al.Patterns of Atopic Eczema Disease Activity From Birth Through Midlife in 2 British Birth Cohorts. Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology. 2021.Reynolds M, Gorelick J, Bruno M.Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Current Diagnostic Criteria and a Proposed Update to Management. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020.Owen JL, Vakharia PP, Silverberg JI.The role and diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(3):293-302. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0340-7Ponka D, Baddar F.Microscopic potassium hydroxide preparation.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(1):57.Antiga E, Caproni M.The diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:257-65. doi:10.2147/CCID.S69127National Eczema Society.Find out more about fillagrin.Eichenfield, Lawrence F. et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2014.American Academy of Family Physicians.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take.Additional ReadingAvena-Woods C.Overview of atopic dermatitis.Am J Manag Care. 2017 Jun;23(8 Suppl):S115-S123.Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(2):338-351. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.010Silvestre Salvador JF, Romero-Pérez D, Encabo-Durán B.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Diagnostic Challenge.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2017;27(2):78-88. doi:10.18176/jiaci.0138Strathie Page S, Weston S, Loh R.Atopic dermatitis in children.Aust Fam Physician. 2016 May;45(5):293-6.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Atopic dermatitis.Siegfried EC, Hebert AA.Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis: mimics, overlaps, and complications.J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):884-917. doi:10.3390/jcm4050884Abuabara K, Ye M, Margolis DJ, et al.Patterns of Atopic Eczema Disease Activity From Birth Through Midlife in 2 British Birth Cohorts. Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology. 2021.Reynolds M, Gorelick J, Bruno M.Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Current Diagnostic Criteria and a Proposed Update to Management. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020.Owen JL, Vakharia PP, Silverberg JI.The role and diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(3):293-302. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0340-7Ponka D, Baddar F.Microscopic potassium hydroxide preparation.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(1):57.Antiga E, Caproni M.The diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:257-65. doi:10.2147/CCID.S69127National Eczema Society.Find out more about fillagrin.Eichenfield, Lawrence F. et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2014.American Academy of Family Physicians.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take.Additional ReadingAvena-Woods C.Overview of atopic dermatitis.Am J Manag Care. 2017 Jun;23(8 Suppl):S115-S123.Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(2):338-351. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.010Silvestre Salvador JF, Romero-Pérez D, Encabo-Durán B.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Diagnostic Challenge.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2017;27(2):78-88. doi:10.18176/jiaci.0138Strathie Page S, Weston S, Loh R.Atopic dermatitis in children.Aust Fam Physician. 2016 May;45(5):293-6.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine.Atopic dermatitis.Siegfried EC, Hebert AA.Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis: mimics, overlaps, and complications.J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):884-917. doi:10.3390/jcm4050884Abuabara K, Ye M, Margolis DJ, et al.Patterns of Atopic Eczema Disease Activity From Birth Through Midlife in 2 British Birth Cohorts. Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology. 2021.Reynolds M, Gorelick J, Bruno M.Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Current Diagnostic Criteria and a Proposed Update to Management. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020.Owen JL, Vakharia PP, Silverberg JI.The role and diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(3):293-302. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0340-7Ponka D, Baddar F.Microscopic potassium hydroxide preparation.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(1):57.Antiga E, Caproni M.The diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:257-65. doi:10.2147/CCID.S69127National Eczema Society.Find out more about fillagrin.Eichenfield, Lawrence F. et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2014.American Academy of Family Physicians.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take.
National Library of Medicine.Atopic dermatitis.
Siegfried EC, Hebert AA.Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis: mimics, overlaps, and complications.J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):884-917. doi:10.3390/jcm4050884
Abuabara K, Ye M, Margolis DJ, et al.Patterns of Atopic Eczema Disease Activity From Birth Through Midlife in 2 British Birth Cohorts. Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology. 2021.
Reynolds M, Gorelick J, Bruno M.Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of Current Diagnostic Criteria and a Proposed Update to Management. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2020.
Owen JL, Vakharia PP, Silverberg JI.The role and diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(3):293-302. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0340-7
Ponka D, Baddar F.Microscopic potassium hydroxide preparation.Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(1):57.
Antiga E, Caproni M.The diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:257-65. doi:10.2147/CCID.S69127
National Eczema Society.Find out more about fillagrin.
Eichenfield, Lawrence F. et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2014.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment.
National Eczema Association.What is eczema?
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take.
Avena-Woods C.Overview of atopic dermatitis.Am J Manag Care. 2017 Jun;23(8 Suppl):S115-S123.Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(2):338-351. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.010Silvestre Salvador JF, Romero-Pérez D, Encabo-Durán B.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Diagnostic Challenge.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2017;27(2):78-88. doi:10.18176/jiaci.0138Strathie Page S, Weston S, Loh R.Atopic dermatitis in children.Aust Fam Physician. 2016 May;45(5):293-6.
Avena-Woods C.Overview of atopic dermatitis.Am J Manag Care. 2017 Jun;23(8 Suppl):S115-S123.
Berke R, Singh A, Guralnick M.Atopic dermatitis: an overview.Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 1;86(1):35-42.
Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(2):338-351. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.010
Silvestre Salvador JF, Romero-Pérez D, Encabo-Durán B.Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Diagnostic Challenge.J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2017;27(2):78-88. doi:10.18176/jiaci.0138
Strathie Page S, Weston S, Loh R.Atopic dermatitis in children.Aust Fam Physician. 2016 May;45(5):293-6.
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What to Know About EczemaHow Can You Tell if You Have Eczema?Finding Out What Might be Triggering Your EczemaHow Is Atopic Dermatitis Diagnosed?How to Treat and Prevent Eczema
What to Know About Eczema
How Can You Tell if You Have Eczema?
Finding Out What Might be Triggering Your Eczema
How Is Atopic Dermatitis Diagnosed?
How to Treat and Prevent Eczema
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