Eczema (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Eczema Overview
- Eczema Causes
- Eczema Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Eczema Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of Skin Problems - Slideshow

- Viewer Comments: Eczema - Effective Treatments
Exams and Tests
A medical professional can usually identify eczema by looking at the rash and asking questions about how it appeared. He or she may scrape some scales off the rash and look at them under the microscope to make sure the rash is not caused by fungus. Other types of infection also must be ruled out.
The three key elements in identifying eczema are:
- Characteristic scaly rash
- Severe itching
- Atopy, or a personal or family tendency toward asthma, hay fever, and other allergies
Next: Eczema Treatment »
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Eczema - Effective Treatments
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Dyshidrotic Eczema »
Dyshidrotic eczema is a recurrent or chronic relapsing form of vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis of unknown etiology.
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