There are seven primary forms of eczema, each with different triggers, symptoms, and treatments. Use these eczema pictures, definitions, and descriptions to learn how to differentiate eczema types.
Atopic Dermatitis
This is the most common and long-lasting form of eczema, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It’s characterized by inflamed skin that may crack and release a clear fluid when scratched (an effect known as “weeping”). Other common symptoms may include red and dry patches on the skin or hardening and thickening of the skin. People with skin of color tend to experience lightening or darkening of the skin in areas of skin inflammation.
People with atopic dermatitis often experience flares, during which symptoms worsen, and remissions, when symptoms improve or clear up, per NIAMS.
Contact Dermatitis (Irritant or Allergic)
This is a localized skin reaction to a substance in the environment that causes the skin to develop an itchy rash, according to the National Eczema Association (NEA). People with white skin may experience dry, cracked, and scaly skin, while people with darker skin tones may experience hyperpigmentation, meaning leathery patches of skin that are darker than the surrounding skin, per Mayo Clinic.
Often the skin immediately reacts to irritants, such as chemicals (acids, cleaning agents, soaps), abrasion, or heat, and is thus known as irritant contact eczema. Other times, the skin reacts slowly (usually about 48 to 96 hours, but also up to three weeks) after contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign or that you’ve become allergic to, such as poison ivy, nickel, or latex — this is called allergic contact eczema, according to Mayo Clinic.
What Is Eczema?
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Hand Eczema
Sometimes mistaken for dry skin, this form of eczema produces dry, thick, scaly patches or red or dark brown skin on the hands that may crack and bleed, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Like contact eczema, hand eczema is triggered by various irritants and allergens. As such, it is most often found in people who work in cleaning, catering, hairdressing, healthcare, and mechanical jobs.
Those who had atopic dermatitis as children are more likely to develop hand eczema compared with those who haven’t had atopic dermatitis, per AAD.
Dyshidrotic Eczema
Marked by small blisters on the hands and feet, especially the fingers, palms, and soles, dyshidrotic eczema can be very itchy and will often disrupt sleep and work time, according to AAD. In people with darker skin tones, lingering dark spots may form where they had blisters. Dyshidrotic eczema sometimes develops as a side effect of intravenous immunoglobulin infusions, a type of treatment for certain immune system disorders and diseases.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Also known as scalp eczema or dandruff, this is a chronic condition in which white or yellow scaly patches of skin develop in oily areas, such as the scalp, the face, the ears, and the groin, per Mayo Clinic. People with darker skin tones may have scaly, hyperpigmented patches of skin in the aforementioned areas, research shows.
Unlike other forms of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis is not a type of allergic reaction, and microorganisms that live on the skin (such as some types of yeast) can contribute to the condition, according to Mayo Clinic.
Nummular Eczema
This itchy and inflammatory skin condition is known for the round spots or coin-shaped lesions that appear as a rash on the arms, legs, or trunk of the body, according to AAD. The spots are red or pink in those with lighter skin tones, and dark brown or lighter than one’s skin tone among people with darker skin. Often, small blisters and scabs may develop. Nummular dermatitis, also known as discoid eczema, is more common in the elderly.
Stasis Dermatitis
Known also as venous eczema and gravitational dermatitis, this type of skin condition is caused by a circulation problem, often with the veins in the legs, according to NEA.
Symptoms usually start with swelling around the ankle, varicose veins, or changes in color of the skin (redness in lighter skin tones, or brown, purple, gray, or ashen in darker skin tones). It can also cause orange-brown discolored speckles, which are sometimes referred to as cayenne pepper spots. Treatments may include compression stockings and topical medicine.
- Atopic Dermatitis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. November 2022.
- Contact Dermatitis. National Eczema Association.
- Contact Dermatitis: Symptoms & Causes. Mayo Clinic. April 25, 2023.
- Dry, Scaly, and Painful Hands Could Be Hand Eczema. American Academy of Dermatology.
- Eczema Types: Dishydrotic Signs and Symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: Symptoms & Causes. Mayo Clinic. September 27, 2022.
- Elgash M et al. Seborrheic Dermatitis in Skin of Color: Clinical Considerations. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. January 2019.
- Ludmann P. Eczema Types: Nummular Eczema Signs & Symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology. March 15, 2021.
- Stasis Dermatitis. National Eczema Association.
Ross Radusky, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum laude from the City University of New York and then received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine. There, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and served as chapter president for two years. He completed his residency in dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Radusky practices general and cosmetic dermatology with a focus on the early detection of skin cancer, and provides patients with a personalized approach to looking their best at any age. He has authored articles and textbook chapters on the clues that our finger- and toenails may provide us about internal disease, as well as on comprehensive therapies for cosmetic dermatology and reversing the signs of skin aging.
Complementing his medical practice, Radusky has a strong passion for the cultural arts, particularly in expanding access to youths and seniors. He previously served as an artist instructor for the Rockaway Artists Alliance, a New York City nonprofit arts and education organization, and then served as both a board director and treasurer of the organization throughout his medical school training.
Radusky enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Robyn, son Oliver, and poodle Lucy, where he can usually be found preventing photoaging and reducing the risk of skin cancer beneath an umbrella in a wide-brimmed hat. He is also the proud inventor of Sunshotz, the world’s only sunscreen measuring cup, designed to help patients of all ages apply the proper amount of sunscreen needed to enjoy all the sun without the burn.
Denise Maher
Author
A longtime health editor, writer, and reporter, Denise edits rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic disease content in addition to women's health topics. A former editor for American Express’s employee wellness mobile website as well as magazines such as More and Martha Stewart’s Whole Living, she has covered wellness, nutrition, stress management, and fitness in addition to integrative medicine, disease management, and women’s health issues. Over the past 15 years, Denise has contributed health content to outlets such as Consumer Reports.org, Details, Dr. Oz The Good Life, Men’s Health, Self, and Weight Watchers. Denise received a bachelor of arts in journalism with a minor in women’s studies from New York University. She lives in downtown Brooklyn with her husband and their son, and in her free time she works in a community garden.