Eczema classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Edzel Lorraine Co, DMD, MD [2]

Overview

Eczema is classified according to location, appearance, or etiology. We have more common causes of eczema, such as seborrheic dermatitis, and less common causes such as dyshidrosis.

National Eczema Association classified eczema into different types.
Table 1 enumerates the common types of eczema with their corresponding description.^[1]

**Table 1. More Common types of Eczema.**
Classification	Description

Atopic eczema	This presents as xerosis and pruritus. ^[2]
Contact dermatitis	Skin lesion attributed to any allergens or irritants.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis	This is a papulosquamous dermatologic disease appears as greasy scales on the scalp.^[3]

Table 2 highlights the lesser common types of eczema with their respective features.

**Table 2. Lesser Common types of Eczema.**
Classification	Description

Dyshidrosis (Dyshidrotic Eczema, Pompholyx, Vesicular Palmoplantar Dermatitis, or Housewife’s Eczema)	Presents as pruritic vesicles with some thickening and cracks on the palms and soles, as well as on the lateral borders of fingers and toes.
Nummular Dermatitis (Discoid Eczema)	A well-demarcated round, oozing lesion mostly found on the lower extremities with an unknown etiology.
Stasis Dermatitis (Venous Eczema, Gravitational Eczema, Varicose eczema)	Commonly found in the ankles of people aged 50 years old and above with blood circulation problems. This condition often leads to leg ulcers.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (Duhring’s Disease)	This is often associated with celiac disease and has a symmetrical, pruritic rash on arms, knees, back, and thigh.
Neurodermatitis (Localized Scratch Dermatitis, Lichen Simplex Chronicus)	Thickened, hyperpigmented, pruritic patch.
Autoeczematization (Autosensitization)	Skin reaction to microorganisms, which manifests a few distance away from the original site of infection.

↑ Johansson SG, Hourihane JO, Bousquet J; et al. (2001). “A revised nomenclature for allergy. An EAACI position statement from the EAACI nomenclature task force”. Allergy. 56 (9): 813–24. PMID 11551246.
↑ Peters N, Peters AT (2019). “Atopic dermatitis”. Allergy Asthma Proc. 40 (6): 433–436. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4265. PMID 31690388.
↑ Sampogna F, Linder D, Piaserico S, Altomare G, Bortune M, Calzavara-Pinton P; et al. (2014). “Quality of life assessment of patients with scalp dermatitis using the Italian version of the Scalpdex”. Acta Derm Venereol. 94 (4): 411–4. doi:10.2340/00015555-1731. PMID 24287710.