Eczema and atopic dermatitis are two skin conditions that are often confused for one another. If you wish to understand the difference between them, read on to know everything related to eczema vs. atopic dermatitis.

What is eczema?
Eczema is a common skin condition that leads to inflammation of the skin. It is estimated that at least 30 million people in the country suffer from this skin problem. It causes inflammation of the skin which makes it appear red and leads to itching.

It appears as dark patches on the skin that may be rough and scaly. The skin could be flaky as well. It can lead to blisters that ooze fluid. It can also cause painful cracks on the skin. The intense itching can lead to scratching. Scratching the irritated skin can cause bleeding. Eczema does not spread from one person to the other.

What is atopic dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common forms of eczema. It most commonly affects children, though adults could develop this condition as well. It leads to dry, inflamed skin that itches, leading to scratching and bleeding.

It commonly affects the neck, wrists, face, back of the knees, and inner elbows. Atopic dermatitis is characterized by incidents of flare-ups that occur due to factors like cold weather, temperature changes, dust mites or any substance that irritates the skin like soap, perfume, and detergent, among others.

Eczema vs. atopic dermatitis
When we look at eczema vs. atopic dermatitis, there is a confusion about differentiating these two skin conditions. Many people use the two terms interchangeably. Some even say that eczema is atopic dermatitis, but eczema is a broad term referring to different types of skin problems.

One of the types of eczema is atopic dermatitis. Eczema has many other types including:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Discoid eczema
• Varicose eczema
• Seborrheic eczema
• Follicular eczema

So atopic dermatitis is one of the many types of eczema.

What are the causes and symptoms of atopic dermatitis and eczema?
It is not clear what the exact cause for atopic dermatitis and eczema is. It primarily occurs due to inflammation of the skin. Many triggers can cause a flare-up of symptoms. Some of these triggers include:

• Cold weather
• Hot showers
• Soaps and detergents
• Dust and smoke
• Woolen or any other synthetic material
• Allergens like dust mites and pollen

During a flare-up, the symptoms of this condition can get aggravated and lead to:

• Severe itching
• Dry and scaly skin
• Formation of thick patches
• Rashes that may turn into blisters

What are the treatment options available?
There is no permanent cure for atopic dermatitis and eczema. The irritants that cause a flare-up of symptoms need to be identified and avoided. Treatment would be through steroid ointments. Regular use of moisturizing cream is advised to prevent the skin from becoming dry. Sometimes, anti-allergic medication may be given.