provider image
Welcome! You’re in GoodRx for healthcare professionals. Now, you’ll enjoy a streamlined experience created specifically for healthcare professionals.
Skip to main content

GoodRx Guide

Eczema: Your GoodRx Guide

Comprehensive information for you or a loved one — including treatment options and discounts on popular medications.
Karla Robinson, MDMaria Robinson, MD, MBA
Published on November 1, 2022

Definition

Eczema is a chronic skin condition marked by a rash with dry, itchy skin. The rash of eczema can have many different features, which vary from person to person. For some people, it can be a mild rash, affecting only a specific area of the body. For others, eczema can be severe and widespread, affecting many skin surfaces throughout the body.

02:29
Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP | March 30, 2023

Treatment for eczema includes the use of creams, ointments, prescription medications. Common drug classes used to treat eczema are CNI immunosuppressants, tricyclic antidepressants, keratolytics, skin barrier emollients, and corticosteroid / keratolytic combinations.

There are several different types of eczema, including:

Causes

Eczema is a rash caused by inflammation in the skin. The exact reason for the inflammation is not entirely clear and depends on the type of eczema you have. There are likely many factors that lead to eczema, including genetics, immune function, triggers, and family history.

Some people with eczema have a genetic mutation in filaggrin. This protein helps to keep the skin barrier intact and the skin moisturized. If you don’t make enough filaggrin, it may make your skin more prone to inflammation. 

Your immune system also plays a role in eczema. There are certain immune system cells that can be overactive in eczema — leading to more inflammation.  

There are many different triggers for the rash in eczema. These triggers may vary depending on the type of eczema you have. Common eczema triggers include:

  • Pet dander

  • Dust mites

  • Soaps and detergents

  • Perfumes

  • Excessive sweat and overheating

  • Clothing

  • Dry skin

  • Stress

  • Illness

  • Extreme weather changes

Eczema can happen in anyone, but it tends to peak in childhood. And it’s very common. In fact, over 30 million people in the U.S. are living with some form of eczema. 

People with eczema often have other inflammatory conditions like seasonal allergies, food allergies, or asthma. And they’re more likely to experience depression or anxiety. Someone is also more likely to have eczema if they have a family history of either of these conditions. 

Symptoms

The most common symptom of eczema is an itchy rash that may come and go. The itching can be so severe that it disrupts your sleep or impairs your quality of life. The rash may have red bumps or red, dry patches of skin. Sometimes the rash may look like blisters or cracked skin that oozes or bleeds. 

But it doesn’t look the same in everyone. The rash of eczema can vary widely depending on your age, skin tone, and the type of eczema you have. 

The places eczema usually shows up on the body can change with age.  

In infants and toddlers, eczema often appears on the:

  • Scalp (cradle cap)

  • Cheeks

  • Outer surface of the elbow

  • Knees

  • Torso (less common)

In older children and adults, eczema often shows up in body folds and creases. You can see the rash in areas like the:

  • Back of the neck

  • Eyelids

  • Hands

  • Feet

  • Elbow fold

  • Back of the knees

In darker skin tones, eczema may not appear red at all. The inflammation may cause the skin to look darker, gray, or purple. If you have concerns about eczema and have darker skin, try to find a medical provider who is familiar with how eczema looks on pigmented skin. 

In severe eczema, intense scratching can lead to a skin infection. This can cause open sores, pus, crusting, and red streaking on the skin.

Promotion disclosure
eczema-image

Diagnosis

Your provider can usually make the diagnosis of eczema using your history of symptoms and a physical exam. But there are times when the rash of eczema may look like other skin conditions. 

Sometimes eczema looks like:

If your healthcare provider is not sure about the diagnosis, they may recommend further skin testing.

A skin biopsy can help figure out what’s happening in your skin. With this test, your provider removes a very small sample of skin. Then a specialist closely examines the sample under a microscope to see if the inflammation looks like eczema.

You may also have a patch test. This is helpful to see if an allergic reaction to something you’re putting on your skin is causing your rash. 

Medications

Many types of medications work well for eczema. The choice of medication is generally based on whether your eczema is mild or moderate to severe. 

Treatment for mild eczema is usually topical (applied to the skin). And you can often use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve symptoms. Some topical treatments are useful to treat skin dryness, and others work to reduce inflammation. 

If you have mild eczema, your provider may recommend treatment with:

Moderate to severe eczema may require systemic treatment. This may come in the form of oral medication or injections. These medications include:

Light therapy may also help improve hard-to-treat eczema. Ultraviolet (UVB) light therapy is the most common type for eczema, and it’s an effective treatment. But it may take a couple of months of regular UVB therapy to see results.

Treatments

01:47
Featuring Suzanne Friedler, MD
Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD | April 9, 2023

In addition to medication, there are other lifestyle changes and home remedies that may help your eczema. Here are a few strategies that can help reduce eczema flare-ups:

  • Moisturize often. Moisturize at least twice a day, and apply it while your skin is still wet from bathing.

  • Use a humidifier. This can also help add moisture to your skin. This is especially important when your environment is dry.

  • Avoid irritants. Resist the urge to use harsh soaps, strong fragrances, or skin scrubs. All of these can irritate the skin.

  • Try wet wraps. Wrapping the skin in moist cloths overnight after applying moisturizer can soothe the skin. It can also help keep moisture in the skin. 

  • Learn your triggers. Once you identify your triggers, do your best to avoid them to limit your eczema flares. Triggers may include certain foods, chemicals, or allergens.  

Common concerns

How do you get rid of eczema?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition. This means many people will need long-term treatment. You’ll work with your provider to find a regimen that works for you. But it’s possible to control symptoms of eczema and limit how often it flares up. 

While there’s no cure, children with eczema may sometimes outgrow eczema. This is more likely to occur if there’s no family history of eczema and if it’s mild. 

Is eczema contagious?

Eczema is not contagious. The rash of eczema is caused by inflammation in the skin, and it’s not due to an infection. Eczema does tend to run in families and can be passed down to family members. But it’s not spread from one person to the next by touching the rash.

Sometimes people confuse eczema with contagious rashes like scabies. Your healthcare provider can help you figure out the source of your rash.

When should you see a provider about eczema?

If you have a new rash or changes in your skin, be sure to contact your provider. They can help make the diagnosis of eczema for you. 

You should also let your provider know if you have eczema along with:

  • New symptoms

  • Treatments that no longer work 

  • Symptoms that interfere with your quality of life

  • Signs of infection (fever, oozing, crusting, or red streaks)

References

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Eczema types: Stasis dermatitis overview.

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Is that eczema or an infection on my child’s skin?.

View All References (16)

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2020). Eczema types: Dyshidrotic eczema overview.

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2021). Patch testing can find what’s on your rash.

American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. (n.d.). Eczema.

Dębińska, A. (2021). New treatments for atopic dermatitis targeting skin barrier repair via the regulation of FLG expression. Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare. (2019). Drugs assessed by IQWiG.

MedlinePlus. (2022).

National Eczema Foundation. (n.d.). Eczema and emotional wellness.

National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Eczema in skin color: What you need to know.

National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Eczema stats.

National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Prescription phototherapy.

National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Seborrheic dermatitis.

National Eczema Association. (n.d.). What is eczema?.

National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Will my child outgrow atopic dermatitis? What we know about disease persistence.

Robinson, C. A., et al. (2022). Nummular dermatitis. StatPearls.

Winters, R. D., et al. (2022). Folliculitis. StatPearls.

Yaneva, M., et al. (2021). The link between atopic dermatitis and asthma- immunological imbalance and beyond. Asthma Research and Practice.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

Get the facts on Eczema.

Sign up for our newsletter to get expert tips on condition management and prescription savings.

By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.

Latest Articles