Eczema

Eczema, collective term for many inflammatory noncontagious conditions of the skin. The term dermatitis, often used incorrectly as a synonym for eczema, means any inflammation of the skin. Eczema causes one or more of the following physical changes to the skin: erythema (blood congestion), infiltration of plasma into the tissues, vesicles (blisters), and papules (pimples). Secondary changes include erosion of tissue, exudation of fluid onto the skin, crusts, lichenification (thickened areas of itchy skin), and scaling.