Eczema

When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor if you have an area of skin that is red and very itchy, or skin that is cracked, blistered or painfully dry. Ask your doctor for an urgent evaluation if you have signs of infection - an area of skin that is painful, swollen, has yellow drainage or has streaking or spreading redness.

Prognosis

The prognosis varies from person to person, depending on the type of eczema and its response to treatment. For example, most contact dermatitis heals within two to three weeks, while most stasis dermatitis lasts for years. Among children affected by atopic eczema, about half still will have the problem as adults.

Additional Info

National Psoriasis Foundation 6600 SW 92nd Ave. Suite 300 Portland, OR 97223-7195 Phone: (503) 244-7404 Toll-Free: (800) 723-9166 Fax: (503) 245-0626 E-Mail: getinfo@psoriasis.org http://www.psoriasis.org/

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse National Insitutes of Health 1 AMS Circle Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 Phone: (301) 495-4484 Toll-Free: (877) 226-4267 Fax: (301) 718-6366 TTY: (301) 565-2966 E-Mail: niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov http://www.niams.nih.gov/