Like many other skin conditions such as psoriasis and dandruff, there is a great deal about eczema that is still a mystery to us.

For example, because eczema refers to a set of clinical characteristics rather than one particular condition, the definition of the underlying causes of eczema has often been unsystematic and haphazard (at best). Indeed, over the years, there have been many different terms and names that have been used for the condition, as dozens of so-called experts have come up with their own definitions of what eczema is and what it is not.

Partially as a result of this confusion, eczema is a condition that is often mixed up with psoriasis. However, the two conditions are not identical, the main difference between the two being that adult eczema is often found on the flexor aspect of body joints (those body parts on the inside of a joint that can decrease in size or surface area because of flexing) while psoriasis is generally not found in these particular areas.

What is generally agreed is that eczema is a form of dermatitis. Dermatitis in turn is used as a ‘catch-all’ term for any inflammation of the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the human skin.

Consequently, for many non-medical professionals, the two words eczema and dermatitis are almost interchangeable, and (just to confuse things a little further) you will also hear eczema referred to as eczematous dermatitis or dermatitis eczema.

If you are anything like me, all of this extra ‘helpful’ information will probably do far more to confuse you than provide any clearer picture of what eczema is and what it isn’t. This is primarily because all we really know about eczema is that it is an inflammation of the skin, which doesn’t really tell you great deal more than you already knew when you started.