What is eczema?

What is eczema?

• A. Acute bacterial skin infection
• B. Nail fungal infection
• C. Chronic inflammatory skin condition with dry or itchy patches
• D. Allergic reaction with hives

Answer: (C)

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy patches, often called atopic dermatitis. It frequently flares in response to irritants, allergens, or environmental dryness and tends to run in families with allergies. This distinguishes eczema from an acute bacterial skin infection, which would show redness, warmth, swelling, and possible pus rather than persistent dry itch. It also differs from a nail fungal infection, which involves thickened, discolored nails rather than patchy skin changes. And it’s not urticaria (hives), which presents as transient, raised welts that come and go rather than persistent dry patches. So the description of a chronic inflammatory skin condition with dry or itchy patches best matches eczema.

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy patches, often called atopic dermatitis. It frequently flares in response to irritants, allergens, or environmental dryness and tends to run in families with allergies. This distinguishes eczema from an acute bacterial skin infection, which would show redness, warmth, swelling, and possible pus rather than persistent dry itch. It also differs from a nail fungal infection, which involves thickened, discolored nails rather than patchy skin changes. And it’s not urticaria (hives), which presents as transient, raised welts that come and go rather than persistent dry patches. So the description of a chronic inflammatory skin condition with dry or itchy patches best matches eczema.