Medical science is still trying to ascertain why eczema affects some people and not others although a genetic trait has been suggested; however, there are others who claim external factors are a contributing cause. Irrespective of the cause, sufferers all have one thing in common; dry, itchy red skin. This dryness can lead to what appears to be a ‘crusty' surface that may exhibit blistering.

Although there are a number of different types, the most common is atopic eczema; irrespective of the type you have, the most common symptom is itching. A sufferer of atopic eczema will often find short term relief by scratching the affected areas but this aggravates the condition and damages the skin. Another problem caused by the condition is it makes the skin more sensitive to almost any substance; the skin can easily become irritated by detergents, soap and even cosmetics for example.

The situation in small children doesn't look as severe at first as the patchy red skin is not on the skins surface but below it. The one consistent factor with eczema is the itchy skin; in these situations it is not the disorder causing the problem as itching is the one consistent factor with the condition. There are instances where a rash might not be cleared up with an eczema cream but the itching eases, this can mean the two were unrelated.

Itchy skin is not the only symptom to diagnose the skin complaint because many health conditions can cause itchiness. Whilst Eczema and a rash always coexist at the same time, the reason the rash itches is still a mystery. Red skin is another symptom of and this is as a result of the increased blood flow in the area.

Apart from making the eczema worse when the sufferer scratches, it might also damage the delicate skin surface; one area that causes concern is where there is a bacterial infection which can easily be the result of scratching sensitive skin. Blisters are also a symptom and in an active condition, the blisters seen are small, although there are cases when the blisters are larger; a bacterial infection or a condition of your particular skin type many be the cause of this. These blisters may contain small amounts of fluid and in some cases a pus; great care is required not to make matters worse (by scratching) than they already are.