Eczema, as we know it, is a general term for the many types of skin inflammation that is also known as dermatitis. The most common form of eczema, atopic dermatitis, is sometimes called atopic eczema. With its long history, doctors have not yet found a specific cure for the disease. What is available now are various therapies designed to put the illness under control and manage the debilitating symptoms (itchiness, skin rashes, lesions, painful open sores) it inflicts on its victims. The Most Common Eczema Atopic Dermatitis Among the many major types of eczema, atopic dermatitis (sometimes called infantile eczema) is the most common. Most people develop atopic dermatitis before the age of five. This refers to a number of conditions where the skin is red and irritated. Atopic means conditions where someone is sensitive to allergens like pollen, molds, dust, animal dander (fur and feathers), and some food. Reducing the habit of scratching (people with atopic eczema scratch their skin 500 to 1000 times a day), combined with the topical therapy gave some promising results. Even people suffering from long-term atopic dermatitis had shown significantly clearer skin. Stress prevention Doctors had long noted that stress can trigger flare-ups of eczema. There s a whole line-up of materials that can irritate the skin laundry detergents, soaps, perfumes, cleaners, wool, animal fur, petroleum products, long contact with water, paints the list is long. Know what irritates your skin and limit your contact with it. Sweating and overheating Sweating and overheating are two most common triggers of the scratch/itch cycle. ) Risk factors Like any other risks, people in certain occupations have greater risks in developing various forms of eczema than others. 5 occupations (housekeeper, brick layer, metal workers, hairdressers and health-care workers) were found to comprise 60% of reported cases. Other occupations with higher-than-average risks include janitors and maids, florist, bakers, caterers, bartenders, cooks and agricultural workers. Food Allergies Common Cause of Eczema Among the many known and probable causes of eczema, many numbers of its sufferers acquire such through food allergies. The condition is also referred to as atopic dermatitis. This is a kind of skin rash with prominent symptoms such as redness, itchiness and scaly look and feel of the skin.