Most people think of atopic dermatitis as the only type of eczema that people can suffer with. This is the standard stereotypical Eczema we all know of. While it is in fact the most common, there are however, several varieties of eczema that I'll attempt to explain here.

Atopic Dermatitis is the type of eczema that most people think of when they think 'eczema'.  It's characterized by itchy, inflammed skin in the form of a rash, and tends to come and go, depending on environmental factors, age, and hormonal changes.  This type of eczema also tends to run in families, so if one of your parents has it, there's a good chance you will too, and also a good chance your children may develop it.  Most people who develop this variety of eczema will do so in infancy and will suffer in various degrees throughout their lifetime.  Environmental factors, such as mold and pollen, along with skin irritants like soap, perfume or dye, and allergies to certain foods tend to cause this variety of eczema, which is why it's so important to limit your contact with those things that do cause it.

Contact Eczema is a localized dermatitis caused by contact with a substance known to cause skin irritation.  As with atopic dermatitis, it's characterized by itching, redness, and inflamation, sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation in and around the area affected.  Two very well-known causes of contact eczema are poison ivy and poison oak.  Other examples of contact eczema are allergic reactions to certain detergents, soaps, perfumes or other skin irritants.  Sometimes jewelry made of certain alloys cause contact eczema, as well as certain types of fabrics.  The main thing that differentiates contact eczema from atopic eczema is that contact eczema is more localized and appears mostly wherever contact with the irritant has taken place.  Scratching does cause this form of eczema to spread rapidly, however, so refraining from scratching is the best way to ultimately end the suffering of this variety of eczema.

Seborrheic Eczema is characterized by yellowish, oily patches of skin, mostly on the face and scalp.  It's cause is unknown but it does tend to run in families.  Usually this type of eczema does not itch but is rather hard to treat, as it's not known what causes it.  People with oily skin tend to have flare-ups more often than those with dry skin, so it's advised that frequent washing of the face and scalp will decreased the number and severity of outbreaks.

Neurodermatitis is a chronic condition caused by constant scratching of a localized itch.  The itch could be caused by anything; insect bites are a common cause.  The person suffering from this form of eczema scratches until the skin becomes very irritated, often resulting in scaly patches of skin wherever they've scratched.  Stress is a large contributer to this form of eczema.

Stasis Dermatitis is a skin irritation on the lower legs, mostly affecting elderly people, caused by circulatory problems.  Symptoms include itching and/or reddish-brown discoloration, as well as blistering, swelling (edema) and oozing.  There is no known treatment for stasis dermatitis other than to treat the underlying cause, which is the circulatory problem (known as venous insufficiency).

Dyshidrotic Eczema is a skin irritation affecting only the soles of the feet and palms of the hands.  The cause is unknown but people who suffer from this condition experience deep blisters that itch and burn.  Warmer climates generally have a higher population of people with dyshidrotic eczema, and it affects both men and women and all ages equally.  As there is no cause, there is no set treatment, except to treat the blisters that are formed from the condition.