Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis Treatment in Jammu

Is eczema contagious?

No. Atopic eczema is not contagious.

It cannot spread through:

• Touching
• Sharing towels
• Clothing
• Swimming
• Food
• Kissing
• Sexual contact
• Living in the same household

An infection occurring on top of eczema may occasionally be contagious, but eczema itself does not pass between people.

What does eczema look like?

Eczema may cause:

• Intense itching
• Dry or rough skin
• Inflamed patches
• Scaling
• Cracking
• Oozing
• Crusting
• Small bumps
• Thickened, leathery skin
• Darker or lighter marks after a flare

Repeated scratching can thicken the skin and create an itch–scratch cycle in which itching causes scratching and scratching causes further inflammation.

How does eczema appear on Indian skin?

On lighter skin, active eczema may appear pink or red.

On medium-to-deep Indian skin tones, it may appear:

• Dark brown
• Purple
• Grey
• Dusky
• Darker than surrounding skin
• Less visibly red
• Covered with small bumps
• Thickened after repeated scratching

Temporary dark or light marks may remain after the active rash settles. Eczema should not be dismissed merely because bright redness is absent.

Where does atopic eczema commonly appear?

The distribution can change with age.

Babies

Common areas include:

• Cheeks
• Scalp
• Forehead
• Trunk
• Arms and legs

Children

It often affects:

• Elbow folds
• Behind the knees
• Wrists
• Ankles
• Neck
• Hands

Adults

Common patterns include:

• Hand eczema
• Eyelid eczema
• Face and neck eczema
• Flexural eczema
• Nipple eczema
• Thickened chronically itchy patches

Adults may have eczema only on the hands or feet even when they had no obvious childhood rash.

What can trigger an eczema flare?

Possible triggers include:

• Dry weather
• Heat and sweating
• Fragranced products
• Harsh cleansers
• Wool or rough fabrics
• Dust
• Smoke
• Stress
• Skin infection
• Repeated handwashing
• Detergents and cleaning products
• Saliva around a baby’s mouth
• Occupational chemicals
• Contact allergy

Triggers differ between patients. A useful treatment plan identifies repeatable personal triggers without forcing the patient to avoid every item on a generic list.

Is eczema an allergy?

Not always.

Atopic dermatitis is associated with allergic conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and food allergy, but eczema itself is not simply an allergic reaction to one food or product.

Contact dermatitis can be allergic when the immune system reacts to a substance touching the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis develops when repeated exposure directly damages the skin barrier.

Is eczema the same as contact dermatitis?

No, although both belong to the eczema group.

Atopic dermatitis

• Often begins early in life
• Is associated with skin-barrier weakness
• May affect several body areas
• Can flare without one identifiable external contact

Contact dermatitis

• Develops where a substance touches the skin
• May be irritant or allergic
• Commonly affects the hands, face, neck, scalp or feet
• Improves when the responsible exposure is identified and avoided

A patient can have atopic dermatitis and contact allergy at the same time.

Is eczema the same as fungal infection?

No.

Eczema

• Is inflammatory
• Is not contagious
• Often causes widespread dryness and itching
• May improve with appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment

Fungal infection

• Is caused by fungi
• May spread between people or body areas
• Often has a scaly or expanding edge
• Requires antifungal medicine

Steroid-containing mixed creams can temporarily hide fungal infection while allowing it to spread. Examination or fungal testing may be needed when the diagnosis is uncertain.

Can eczema look like psoriasis or scabies?

Yes.

Psoriasis may cause thicker, more sharply defined plaques and can affect the scalp, nails and joints. Scabies commonly causes severe night-time itching, burrows and similar symptoms in household contacts.

Nummular eczema can produce circular patches that resemble ringworm, while hand eczema may resemble fungal infection or psoriasis. Accurate diagnosis is important before continuing long-term steroid, antifungal or scabies treatment.

What is hand eczema?

Hand eczema can cause:

• Dryness
• Cracks
• Scaling
• Burning
• Itching
• Pain
• Blisters
• Bleeding
• Thickened skin

It is common among people exposed repeatedly to water, soap, sanitiser, gloves, cement, chemicals or cleaning products.

Occupations frequently affected include:

• Healthcare work
• Hairdressing
• Cleaning
• Food preparation
• Construction
• Mechanics
• Agriculture
• Beauty and salon work

Contact allergy, fungal infection and psoriasis may need to be excluded when hand eczema persists.

What is dyshidrotic eczema?

Dyshidrotic eczema, also called pompholyx, produces small, intensely itchy blisters on the:

• Fingers
• Palms
• Sides of the hands
• Toes
• Soles

After the blisters settle, the skin may peel, crack or become painful.

Possible associations include sweating, stress, irritants, metal allergy and infection elsewhere on the hands or feet. Patch testing may be considered when contact allergy is suspected.

What is nummular eczema?

Nummular eczema produces round or oval itchy patches that may resemble coins.

The patches can become:

• Dry
• Scaly
• Raised
• Crusted
• Oozing
• Darker after healing

Because ringworm, psoriasis and bacterial infection can look similar, the diagnosis may require examination or testing before treatment.

Often useful for very dry, cracked skin because they reduce water loss effectively.

May be more comfortable during the day or in warm weather.

Are lighter but may be insufficient for severely dry eczema.

The best moisturiser is one that controls dryness and can be used consistently.

Eczema is distinguished from fungal infection, psoriasis, scabies, contact allergy and bacterial infection.

The plan includes bathing, moisturising and product selection—not only prescription medicine.

Treatment is planned under Dr. Cheena Langer, MBBS, MD Dermatology, Consultant Dermatologist.

Face, eyelids, hands, folds and thick body plaques may require different strengths and formulations.

Care is adapted according to age, body area, sleep disturbance and disease severity.

Patients receive guidance on crusting, pus, painful blisters and other changes requiring prompt review.

Eczema assessment is available within the general dermatology service at both Karan Nagar and Paloura.

Additional cost depends on:

• Type of eczema
• Body area involved
• Prescription creams or ointments
• Moisturisers
• Fungal or bacterial testing
• Patch testing or referral where required
• Skin biopsy
• Treatment of infection
• Systemic medicine and monitoring
• External phototherapy
• Follow-up after the included 10-day period

Most patients do not need every available test. The treatment plan and expected costs are discussed after examination.