Up to 10% of adults in the U.S. have eczema, but not everyone is familiar with the skin condition. While most people are aware that eczema causes a rash, plenty of other things can lead to skin irritation, too. With that, it’s fair to want to hunt down eczema rash pictures if you have skin irritation that won’t quit. Like most skin conditions, eczema can look different on everyone. Symptoms will vary based on your skin tone, how severe your eczema is, the type of eczema you have, and even your individual response to the condition, according to Ife J. Rodney, M.D., founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics. Still, there are some common signs that show up. If you have a rash that’s sticking around or keeps flaring up, it’s important to see a dermatologist to figure out what’s going on with your skin health. But while you’re waiting for an appointment, these eczema rash pictures can help give you clues to tell if you’re dealing with the common skin condition or something else entirely. Here’s what dermatologists want you to know about eczema, plus what it looks like for a range of people. Meet the experts: Melanie Palm, M.D., dermatologist at Art of Skin MD; Geeta Yadav, M.D., dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology; Ife J. Rodney, M.D., founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics; Saurabh Sing, M.D., a dermatologist in the Washington D.C. metro area Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or skin inflammation, that can present on different parts of your body. “Eczema damages your skin barrier function, weakening your skin’s ability to retain moisture and protect itself from external factors,” explains Geeta Yadav, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology. “This causes skin dryness, makes skin look inflamed, feel itchy, and take on a rough texture.” Although there is no cure for eczema, some research suggests 80% of children who experience it will outgrow their condition before adulthood. “Effective eczema treatment is about managing the symptoms and trying to prevent further flare-ups, which are often caused by new or existing allergy triggers,” Dr. Yadav says. Recognizing the appearance of eczema will help you figure out how to manage those flare-ups and let you know when it’s time to call the doctor for help. Recognizing eczema on different skin tones Variations in skin color can cause eczema to have a different appearance for different people. “While eczema may appear red on fairer complexions, it can present as brown, purple, or grey/ashy in deeper skin tones,” Dr. Yadav says. The way you respond to your eczema flare-up (especially if you’re dealing with an itchy variety) can also change how it presents on your skin. “Active eczema or scratching can result in two types of pigmentary skin changes: hyperpigmentation, the darkening of skin, and hypopigmentation, the lightening of skin,” says Melanie Palm, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Art of Skin MD. “Hyperpigmentation is more common in people with darker skin tones,” she continues. “Someone with a lighter skin tone might experience more redness as a result of eczema, but in people with darker skin tones, eczema can present as brown or pink.” There are multiple types of eczema, with atopic dermatitis being the most common, according to Saurabh Sing, M.D., a dermatologist in the Washington D.C. metro area. “It typically begins in childhood and is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction,” he explains. “It’s not unusual for this form of eczema to occur in childhood but fade away as a patient ages,” according to Dr. Yadav. “Common risk factors for atopic dermatitis include a family history of dry skin, eczema, asthma, and/or food and environmental allergies—in fact, many people with eczema have a combination of these conditions. Classically atopic dermatitis can affect the folds of the elbows and knees as well as the hands and face.” People who are suffering from nummular eczema may be able to recognize their condition by the shape of the rash on their skin. “Discoid or nummular eczema is characterized by its disk-shaped patches of itchy, red, cracked, and swollen skin,” says Dr. Palm. “It can occur in people of any age and is a chronic skin condition.” This common type of eczema is caused by a reaction to something that touched your skin, according to Dr. Yadav. That can include an allergic reaction (also known as allergic contact dermatitis) like if someone has a latex allergy and wears a latex glove. It can also be caused by an irritant (also known as irritant contact dermatitis) and can present after you come into contact with something like harsh household cleaning supplies or poison ivy. “This form of eczema can even blister and is usually exquisitely itchy,” she says. “The skin will look inflamed, irritated, and scaly in the area that was touched by the trigger.” As the name implies, Dr. Singh says those with hand eczema will notice outbreaks are isolated to the hands. Similar to contact dermatitis, this can appear after exposure to certain materials or ingredients. “Hand eczema is the form I most often see in adults,” says Dr. Yadav. “It can be triggered or flared by irritants like hand washing or hand sanitizer. The skin gets very dry and can even crack and fissure.” She says that people who are frequently exposed to chemicals (like harsh cleaning supplies or hair dye) may be more likely to experience this form of eczema. The best lotions for eczema might be able to help soothe itchy skin. Dr. Singh says that dyshidrotic eczema is a subset of hand eczema that presents with very small, itchy blisters (and can also occur on the feet). Unlike hand eczema, Dr. Yadav says these itchy blister-like lesions are more likely caused by genetic and internal factors. While atopic dermatitis can be found across the body, Dr. Yadav says neurodermatitis is usually limited to one or two areas, particularly the back or the lower legs. “It is characterized by darker patches that cause intense itching,” she says, adding that sufferers can find themselves stuck in a vicious cycle during a flare-up. “Scratching provides temporary relief but will prevent skin’s recovery and often make the itching worse—the scratching can often lead to bleeding and infection. Soothing agents combined with topical agents can be helpful in treatment of neurodermatitis but getting a board-certified dermatologist to diagnose this kind of itch is important before proceeding with treatment.” Dr. Singh says that stasis dermatitis is another fairly common type of eczema in older adults that presents on the lower extremities and can be caused by several factors related to the ability for blood to flow freely through your body, like high blood pressure, poor circulation, and more. The image pictured is an extreme case. Eczema can be caused by underlying genetic and immune factors or by external triggers. “Often triggers for flares can be environmental (such as cold weather), excessively hot showers, fragranced beauty products, and detergents, and stress,” Dr. Yadav says. To figure out what might be behind your eczema flare-up, Dr. Yadav suggests keeping an “eczema diary.” Tracking your habits and stressors can help you identify your unique triggers. Unfortunately, eczema can’t be cured, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). However, the right treatment options can help manage the condition. There are a lot of different options for eczema treatment to consider, including lifestyle, topical, and medical options, Dr. Rodney says. A lot of treatment starts with proper skincare, Dr. Rodney says. “I recommend gentle skincare practices to all my patients with eczema,” she says. These are her big recommendations: If skincare tweaks alone aren’t helping, your doctor may recommend trying certain medications to help reduce flares. According to the AAD, those can include: If those don’t work, Dr. Rodney says that your dermatologist may recommend undergoing light therapy sessions or even taking an oral medication to help prevent flares and control the itch. Of course, if you’re receiving care for eczema and you’re not getting relief, it’s important to talk to your dermatologist. They should be able to recommend alternative options to help you feel better. Eczema and allergies are what’s known as the “atopic triad,” Dr. Rodney explains. “It’s eczema, seasonal allergies, and asthma,” she says. “Those three conditions usually come together, although sometimes one or all three of them improve as you get older.” Yes, you can develop eczema as an adult. “Anyone can develop eczema at any age,” Dr. Rodney says. “It just means that the skin is dry and sensitive, and that the protective skin barrier is compromised.” Dr. Rodney says that she sees this happen fairly often in her adult patients. “We don’t have a specific reason,” she says. The three-minute rule for eczema means applying moisturizer to your skin within three minutes after you get out of the shower or bath, Dr. Rodney says. “When your skin is still moist, this can really lock the moisture into your skin,” she says. Following this rule regularly may even help lower the risk of future flares and irritation, she says. .. Mona Gohara, M.D. is a Yale-trained, board-certified dermatologist, Oberlin College-bred feminist, medical media expert, and member of the ELLE Beauty Advisory Board. Mona enjoys educating on skin health, skin cancer, skin of color, and sun protection. She has done this through writing, lecturing on the local, national, and international levels, and by engaging popular media. Mona is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology, where she chaired the social media task force, The Women’s Dermatologic Society where she serves as president, and The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, where she chairs the DEI Work Group.