Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConditions That Mimic EczemaDiagnosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Conditions That Mimic Eczema
Diagnosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Eczemais a common skin condition that’s often hard to diagnose. The signature symptoms, including dry skin, rashes, itchiness, scaly patches, and blisters, can look like other skin problems.
There are seven subtypes of eczema, each with specific characteristics that set them apart.Eczema is commonly mistaken for other skin conditions, and sometimes, those other problems are misdiagnosed as eczema.
This article discusses skin conditions frequently confused with eczema and how you can tell them apart.
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Is Eczema Always Itchy?Yes, eczema is almost always come with an itch that ranges from mild to severe.
Is Eczema Always Itchy?
Yes, eczema is almost always come with an itch that ranges from mild to severe.
Some skin conditions that may mimic eczema include:
Ringworm
Ringworm vs. EczemaA ringworm rash is usually round with defined edges. Although eczema rashes can be round, they also occur in different sizes and shapes. Additionally, ringworm rashes may contain a cluster of small black dots in the center of the ring.
Ringworm vs. Eczema
A ringworm rash is usually round with defined edges. Although eczema rashes can be round, they also occur in different sizes and shapes. Additionally, ringworm rashes may contain a cluster of small black dots in the center of the ring.
Psoriasis
Psoriasisis an immune-related skin disease that causes itchy rashes and scaly patches, much like eczema.Both psoriasis and eczema can appear anywhere on the body, but psoriasis is more likely to develop on the:
Eczema can occur in those places too, but often affects the back of the knees or the inside of the elbows.You can get either condition at any time, but eczema tends to affect children, while psoriasis usually develops in adulthood.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) light from the sun can ease symptoms of psoriasis and certain types of eczema.
Psoriasis vs. EczemaEczema is typically itchier than psoriasis. Eczema patches tend to ooze when scratched, while psoriasis plaques can bleed.Unlike eczema, psoriasis usually shows up during adulthood.
Psoriasis vs. Eczema
Eczema is typically itchier than psoriasis. Eczema patches tend to ooze when scratched, while psoriasis plaques can bleed.Unlike eczema, psoriasis usually shows up during adulthood.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
An ACD rash causes itchy, red, and flaky skin that sometimes blisters or oozes. It may take hours or days to appear after exposure to the problematic substance, and it could take weeks to heal.
Eczema is usually found on the face, elbows, feet, skin creases, and backs of the knees, while ACD can crop up wherever you are exposed to an irritant.
ACD vs. EczemaThough eczema and ACD rashes can look similar, ACD is more likely to develop on areas of your body that have been exposed to an allergen. Unlike eczema, ACD reactions should clear once you avoid the irritating substance.
ACD vs. Eczema
Though eczema and ACD rashes can look similar, ACD is more likely to develop on areas of your body that have been exposed to an allergen. Unlike eczema, ACD reactions should clear once you avoid the irritating substance.
Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE)
The condition usually occurs during the spring or summer when people are more likely to be outdoors.
PMLE vs. EczemaUnlike eczema, PMLE symptoms happen only after you’ve been exposed to sunlight and go away within a couple of weeks.
PMLE vs. Eczema
Unlike eczema, PMLE symptoms happen only after you’ve been exposed to sunlight and go away within a couple of weeks.
Bacterial Skin Infections
These skin infections may also accompany other symptoms, such as a fever. They usually respond to topical or oral antibiotics.
Skin Infection vs. EczemaUnlike typical eczema rashes, bacterial skin infections can appear swollen and full of pus. Also, if you have other symptoms of infection, such as a fever, it’s likely a skin infection and not eczema.
Skin Infection vs. Eczema
Unlike typical eczema rashes, bacterial skin infections can appear swollen and full of pus. Also, if you have other symptoms of infection, such as a fever, it’s likely a skin infection and not eczema.
Skin Lymphoma
Skin (cutaneous) lymphomais a rare skin cancer not linked to sun exposure. Typically, skin lymphoma appears as:
Like eczema, lesions can be itchy and scaly. They are usually red or purple and appear on areas of the skin that aren’t exposed to sunlight. People with skin lymphoma may also experience fatigue, highwhite blood cellcounts, and enlargedlymph nodes.
Skin Lymphoma vs. EczemaSkin lymphoma can look like eczema. However, it may accompany other symptoms like fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes. Your healthcare provider needs to perform a biopsy (removing a sample tissue for analysis in a lab) to confirm that the lesion is cancerous.
Skin Lymphoma vs. Eczema
Skin lymphoma can look like eczema. However, it may accompany other symptoms like fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes. Your healthcare provider needs to perform a biopsy (removing a sample tissue for analysis in a lab) to confirm that the lesion is cancerous.
Lupus
Lupusis an autoimmune disease that affects many organs in the body, including the skin. One common symptom of lupus is a butterfly-shapedrashthat usually appears on the cheeks and nose. Other symptoms of lupus include:
Lupus vs. EczemaLupus rashes often appear on the face as a butterfly shape and are sensitive to sunlight. Symptoms like joint pain and fatigue may also signal lupus, but they aren’t signs of eczema.
Lupus vs. Eczema
Lupus rashes often appear on the face as a butterfly shape and are sensitive to sunlight. Symptoms like joint pain and fatigue may also signal lupus, but they aren’t signs of eczema.
Acne
Acnehappens when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Symptoms of acne include raised whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples. The lesions usually appear on the face, forehead, chest, back, and shoulders.
Although acne can look like eczema, it isn’t itchy. Acne tends to crop up in oily areas of the skin, while eczema usually affects dry areas.
Acne vs. EczemaThe main difference between eczema and acne is that acne doesn’t cause itching.
Acne vs. Eczema
The main difference between eczema and acne is that acne doesn’t cause itching.
Rosacea
Rosaceais a skin condition that causes small blood vessels in a person’s face to swell, which results in flushing. It can also trigger small, pus-filled bumps to form, which may be mistaken for eczema.
Rosacea is most likely to affect the cheeks, nose, eyelids, forehead, and skin around the mouth.
Rosacea vs. Eczema
How to Properly Diagnose Eczema
Apatch testcan help determine if you have allergies. Abiopsycan reveal important information, such as whether eczema is present in your skin cells. Additionally, it can let your healthcare provider know if your skin lesions are cancerous or benign.
Summary
Eczema is a common skin condition that’s frequently misdiagnosed. Symptoms of eczema, which include an itchy, scaly, and red rash, can mimic that of other problems. Knowing the classic signs can help determine if it’s eczema or something else.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere are seven types of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, and more.Learn MoreA Overview of the 7 Types of EczemaMany other skin conditions, such as skin infections, allergic contact dermatitis, and acne, can occur along with eczema.Bacterial infections may appear red and swollen and contain pus.Fungal infections may cause a red, scaly, itchy rash with some pustules.
There are seven types of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, and more.Learn MoreA Overview of the 7 Types of Eczema
There are seven types of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, and more.
Learn MoreA Overview of the 7 Types of Eczema
Many other skin conditions, such as skin infections, allergic contact dermatitis, and acne, can occur along with eczema.
Bacterial infections may appear red and swollen and contain pus.Fungal infections may cause a red, scaly, itchy rash with some pustules.
13 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 Eczema Association.What is eczema?Science Direct.Differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):11-34.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: Overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is psoriasis?PennMedicine.Eczema vs. psoriasis: Similarities, differences and treatments.Adler BL, DeLeo VA.Allergic contact dermatitis.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(3):364-364. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.5639American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.3 ways to tell if It’s eczema or a skin infection.Yale Medicine.Skin lymphoma.American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.American Academy of Dermatology.What causes acne?American Family Physician.Rosacea–what is it, and what can I do about it?National Eczema Association.An overview of the different types of eczema.
13 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 Eczema Association.What is eczema?Science Direct.Differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):11-34.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: Overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is psoriasis?PennMedicine.Eczema vs. psoriasis: Similarities, differences and treatments.Adler BL, DeLeo VA.Allergic contact dermatitis.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(3):364-364. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.5639American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.3 ways to tell if It’s eczema or a skin infection.Yale Medicine.Skin lymphoma.American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.American Academy of Dermatology.What causes acne?American Family Physician.Rosacea–what is it, and what can I do about it?National Eczema Association.An overview of the different types of eczema.
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 Eczema Association.What is eczema?Science Direct.Differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):11-34.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: Overview.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is psoriasis?PennMedicine.Eczema vs. psoriasis: Similarities, differences and treatments.Adler BL, DeLeo VA.Allergic contact dermatitis.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(3):364-364. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.5639American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.3 ways to tell if It’s eczema or a skin infection.Yale Medicine.Skin lymphoma.American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.American Academy of Dermatology.What causes acne?American Family Physician.Rosacea–what is it, and what can I do about it?National Eczema Association.An overview of the different types of eczema.
National Eczema Association.What is eczema?
Science Direct.Differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):11-34.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: Overview.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is psoriasis?
PennMedicine.Eczema vs. psoriasis: Similarities, differences and treatments.
Adler BL, DeLeo VA.Allergic contact dermatitis.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(3):364-364. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.5639
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Polymorphous light eruption.
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.3 ways to tell if It’s eczema or a skin infection.
Yale Medicine.Skin lymphoma.
American College of Rheumatology.Lupus.
American Academy of Dermatology.What causes acne?
American Family Physician.Rosacea–what is it, and what can I do about it?
National Eczema Association.An overview of the different types of eczema.
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