Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis overview

What is atopic dermatitis?

Also called eczema, atopic dermatitis is a common condition that causes itchy, dry, and inflamed skin. It usually begins in childhood but can start at any age. Board-certified dermatologists have expertise in helping their patients reduce flare-ups and feel more comfortable.

Is atopic dermatitis contagious?

No, atopic dermatitis is not contagious, so this condition cannot spread from person to person.

Babies often develop atopic dermatitis on their face

If your baby has a lighter skin tone, you may see a pink or red rash with bumps and swollen skin that may ooze or crust (A). Babies with darker skin tones are more likely to develop small bumps, extremely dry skin, and dark brown, gray, or purple skin where they have atopic dermatitis (B).

Atopic dermatitis, also called eczema, usually begins early in life. It often appears between 2 months and 5 years of age. While most people develop atopic dermatitis by 5 years of age, this condition can also start during puberty or later.

What’s the difference between atopic dermatitis and eczema?

Eczema refers to a group of conditions that cause rashes, itchiness, and excessively dry skin. Atopic dermatitis is one type of eczema.

There are several causes of eczema. Skin can react to a substance, such as poison ivy or nickel, leading to an allergic skin reaction. This type of eczema is called contact dermatitis. Another type of eczema causes long-term swelling of the skin and is called stasis dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. When talking about atopic dermatitis, you may hear people say “eczema” or “atopic eczema.” If you’re uncertain when you hear the word “eczema” in a health care setting, ask the person what type of eczema they are talking about.

How long does atopic dermatitis last?

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease, which means it can last a long time. For many children, the condition goes away by their teenage years. However, some people have the condition for life.

There is no way to know whether atopic dermatitis will go away or become a lifelong condition. However, you can prevent it from getting worse by seeing a board-certified dermatologist as soon as you notice signs and symptoms. An early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent the condition from worsening. The more severe the condition becomes, the more:

• Difficult it can be to treat

• Likely a person will have atopic dermatitis as an adult

Even if the rash of atopic dermatitis goes away, the skin can still be easily irritated. For example, many people who had atopic dermatitis as a child develop raw, cracked, and irritated skin that may bleed when they do “wet work.” This type of work refers to touching water or other liquids, which causes wet hands. Throughout the day, you may have wet hands frequently or for a long period. Jobs that involve wet work include doctor, nurse, florist, hairstylist, and bricklayer.

If you have a job or hobby that requires wet work, your dermatologist may be able to help you manage atopic dermatitis so that you can continue doing wet work.

Does atopic dermatitis worsen with age?

It depends. Some children “grow out” of atopic dermatitis. For others, atopic dermatitis remains a lifelong condition. Getting a proper treatment plan soon after you notice signs and symptoms is so important, as proper treatment can help prevent atopic dermatitis from worsening.

To benefit from this treatment plan, it’s essential that you stick to it. Follow the recommended skin care, use medication as instructed, and find out what triggers your flare-ups so that you can avoid known triggers.

What can prevent a child from getting atopic dermatitis?

So far, nothing is guaranteed to prevent atopic dermatitis from developing. However, if your baby has a high risk of developing atopic dermatitis, you may be able to reduce the risk. A baby has a high risk when one or both parents have (or had) atopic dermatitis, asthma, or hay fever.

Studies suggest that when a child has a high risk of developing atopic dermatitis, regularly applying moisturizer to your child’s skin may reduce the risk. You need to do this before your child turns 2 years old.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a moisturizer that:

• Is a cream or ointment

• Is hypoallergenic

• Doesn’t contain fragrance, perfume, or dyes

• Formulated for a baby’s sensitive skin

You may have come across other advice for preventing a child from developing atopic dermatitis. In studies, nothing else has proven effective — including feeding your baby certain foods or supplements, such as human milk, probiotics, or vitamin D supplements. Avoiding dust mites and using water softener also have not proven effective.

Is there a cure for atopic dermatitis?

At this time, atopic dermatitis cannot be cured. However, treatment can ease symptoms and lead to clearer — if not completely clear — skin.

Newer medications are easing symptoms for patients who haven’t been helped by previous treatments, and researchers continue to look for better ways to treat this condition.

To find out what a treatment plan may include, go to Atopic dermatitis: Diagnosis and treatment

Should people with atopic dermatitis keep their skin dry or moist?

You want to keep skin moisturized. Atopic dermatitis causes excessively dry skin. Keeping the skin hydrated with an eczema friendly cream or ointment can help relieve discomfort and reduce flare-ups. That’s why dermatologists recommend that everyone with this condition keep their skin moisturized with a mild, fragrance-free cream or ointment.

To find out how to keep skin moisturized, follow the three steps from dermatologists that tell you How to reduce eczema flares with moisturizer.

Where does atopic dermatitis appear on the body?

Atopic dermatitis can occur anywhere on the skin or scalp. However, there are certain places where this condition is more likely to develop. To find out where and see pictures of atopic dermatitis, go to Atopic dermatitis: Symptoms.

Images

• Image 1: Getty Images

• Image 2: Used with permission of DermNet NZ.

References
Feldman SR, Cox LS, et al. “The challenge of managing atopic dermatitis in the United States.” Am Health Drug Benefits. 2019 Apr;12(2):83-93.

Lee HH, Patel KR, et al. “A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and phenotype of adult-onset atopic dermatitis.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jun;80(6):1526-1532.e7.

Simpson EL, Chalmers JR, et al. “Emollient enhancement of the skin barrier from birth offers effective atopic dermatitis prevention.” J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Oct;134(4):818-23. 

Simpson EL, Leung DYM, et al. “Atopic dermatitis.” In: Kang S, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. (ninth edition) McGraw Hill Education, United States of America, 2019:363-84.

Sidbury R, Alikhan A, et al. “Guidelines of care for the primary prevention of atopic dermatitis and awareness of comorbid conditions in pediatric atopic dermatitis.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2026 Apr 7:S0190-9622(26)00344-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2026.02.114. Epub ahead of print.

Ständer S. “Atopic dermatitis.” N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 25;384(12):1136-43. 

Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS

Reviewed by:
Michael K. O’Donoghue, MD, FAAD
Brittany Oliver, MD, FAAD
Sanna Ronkainen, MD, FAAD

Last updated: 5/20/26