October is Eczema Awareness Month. At Stryde Research, our team works with people living with eczema inside the dermatology practices where they already get care. Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, causes dry, itchy, inflamed skin. It is not contagious. And what patients tell us most isn’t about how it looks. It’s about what eczema takes from everyday life: sleep, comfort, and confidence.
Our team hears this in clinic every week. Maneesha, Clinical Research Coordinator at Stryde Research, works closely with patients while managing the day-to-day work of clinical trials.
“Every day is different, and that’s what I enjoy most about my job. I get to work closely with patients while managing different aspects of clinical trials. The most rewarding part is hearing patients’ stories and knowing that the work we do contributes to developing better treatment options. It’s exciting to be part of advancing medicine, and there’s always something new to learn.”
For Maneesha, hearing patients’ stories is the most rewarding part of the job. Here are three that stayed with her. We’ve included them below, along with practical information we hope helps anyone living with eczema or caring for someone who is.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a condition where the skin barrier doesn’t hold in moisture or keep out irritants as well as it should. The skin becomes dry, itchy, and inflamed. It tends to come and go, with flare-ups followed by calmer periods.
Common eczema symptoms include:
- Itching, often intense and often worse at night
- Dry, rough, or scaly skin
- Patches that look red on lighter skin, and brown, purple, or gray on darker skin
- Small bumps that may ooze or crust during a flare
- Thickened skin in areas that have been scratched for a long time
Where eczema shows up often depends on age. Babies tend to get it on the cheeks, face, and scalp. Children often get it in the creases of the elbows and knees. Adults commonly see it on the hands, neck, and eyelids.
Eczema is common. According to the National Eczema Association, about 31.6 million people in the US have some form of eczema.
A question we hear in clinic: what causes eczema?
Eczema comes from a mix of genetics, the immune system, and the skin barrier. It often runs in families, especially families with a history of asthma or hay fever. It is not caused by poor hygiene, and it is not caught from other people.
Triggers are the things that can set off a flare. They differ from person to person, but common ones include:
- Cold, dry air and low humidity
- Long, hot showers or baths
- Fragranced soaps, lotions, and laundry detergents
- Wool or scratchy fabrics
- Sweat and overheating
- Stress
- Allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and pollen
Some children with eczema also have food allergies. Talk to your child’s doctor before cutting foods from their diet, since removing foods without testing can cause other problems.
Keeping a simple flare diary, noting what you ate, wore, and did before a flare, can help you and your doctor spot patterns.
How does eczema affect sleep, especially for babies?
Eczema itch is often worse at night. The body releases less of its natural anti-itch hormones in the evening, and warm bedding can make skin feel hotter and itchier.
Maneesha remembers one parent describing the nights they spent awake, watching their baby scratch and cry instead of sleep. When a baby with eczema can’t sleep, nobody in the house does. What that parent wanted most was simple: a full night’s rest for their little one.
Because our studies run inside dermatology practices, conversations like this one happen during regular visits, with a doctor the family already knows.
If eczema is keeping your child (or you) up at night, these steps are commonly recommended by dermatologists:
- Bath, then moisturize: Give a short, lukewarm bath, pat skin mostly dry, and apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturizer within about three minutes to lock in water.
- Dress for cool comfort: Choose soft, breathable cotton pajamas and keep the bedroom on the cool side.
- Protect against scratching: Keep nails short. For babies, soft cotton mittens or sleepsuits with fold-over cuffs can help.
- Follow the treatment plan at bedtime: If your doctor has prescribed a cream or ointment, ask whether it should go on before bed.
If sleep is regularly disrupted, tell your doctor. Poor sleep is a sign that the current plan may need adjusting.
Why can hand eczema make everyday life so hard?
Hand eczema turns ordinary moments into hard ones. Washing dishes stings. Hand sanitizer burns. Cracked skin splits when you bend your fingers.
One patient told Maneesha that they had stopped wearing their wedding ring because their hands were too sore. To someone else, that might sound minor. To them, it was a daily reminder of something eczema had taken away.
If you live with hand eczema, these habits may help protect your skin:
- Wash with lukewarm water and a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
- Moisturize after every hand wash, and keep a tube by each sink
- Take rings off before washing, since soap and water can get trapped underneath
- Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves for dishes and cleaning
- Apply a thick moisturizer at night and cover with cotton gloves
See a doctor if your hands crack, bleed, or don’t improve with gentle care. Hand eczema can also be caused or worsened by something you touch at work or home, and a dermatologist can test for that.
Is eczema contagious?
No. Eczema is not contagious. You cannot catch it by touching someone, sharing a towel, or sitting next to them in class. Eczema comes from the skin barrier and the immune system, not from germs passed between people.
That myth still causes real harm. One patient Maneesha met has lived with eczema since childhood. Growing up, they dealt with the itch and discomfort, and also with classmates who kept their distance because they thought eczema would spread. They carried two things through school: the condition itself, and the feeling of being avoided because of it.
One important detail: skin damaged by eczema can sometimes become infected, and infections are treated separately. See a doctor promptly if eczema suddenly gets worse, oozes yellow fluid, forms honey-colored crusts, develops painful blisters, or comes with a fever.
If your child has eczema, a short note to their teacher explaining that it is not contagious can make school a kinder place.
How does eczema affect mental health?
Eczema affects more than skin. Constant itch, broken sleep, and feeling self-conscious can take a toll on mood, focus, and confidence. Research links eczema with higher rates of anxiety and depression.
If eczema is affecting how you feel, mention it to your doctor. Getting the skin under better control can help, and so can talking to a counsellor or connecting with others who live with eczema.
When should you see a dermatologist for eczema?
It’s a good idea to see a dermatologist if:
- Eczema keeps you or your child from sleeping
- Over-the-counter moisturizers and gentle care aren’t helping
- Eczema covers a large area or keeps coming back
- Skin looks infected (oozing, crusting, pain, or fever)
- Eczema is affecting work, school, or your mood
- You’re not sure the rash is eczema
A dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis, look for triggers, and build a care plan that fits your skin.
What treatment options are available for eczema?
There is no single treatment that works for everyone, and the right plan depends on how severe eczema is and where it shows up. Common options include:
- Daily skin care: Gentle cleansing and regular moisturizing, which form the base of almost every plan
- Prescription creams and ointments: Including steroid and non-steroid options that calm inflammation during flares
- Light therapy (phototherapy): Controlled exposure to ultraviolet light, given in a clinic
- Newer medicines for moderate to severe eczema: Including injectable and oral options that work on the immune system
Eczema treatment ranges from daily skin care to prescription creams, light therapy, and newer medicines for moderate to severe cases. Your dermatologist can help you decide what fits.
Are clinical studies an option for people with eczema?
Many people manage eczema for years with creams, routines, and a lot of trial and error. Sometimes what they’re using stops being enough. That’s often when people start asking their doctor about other options, including clinical studies.
A clinical study tests whether a new treatment, or a new way of using an existing one, is safe and helpful. Taking part is not a promise of results. It’s a way to learn about options that are still being tested, with close medical follow-up along the way.
At Stryde Research, studies run inside dermatology practices patients already know, across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Louisiana, and the New York and New Jersey metro area. That means:
- Your own doctor stays involved in your care
- Study-related care is provided at no cost
- Joining is always your choice, and you can stop at any time
- You get plain-language answers before you decide anything
Join our registry if you wish to know about any upcoming study where you might be a good fit.
Want to hear more patient stories? Check out our Humans of Clinical Research podcast episodes.
Eczema frequently asked questions
Is eczema contagious?
No. Eczema cannot spread from person to person. It is caused by a mix of genetics, the immune system, and the skin barrier. Infected eczema can involve germs that spread, which is why signs of infection should be checked by a doctor.
Does eczema go away on its own?
Sometimes. Many children find their eczema becomes milder as they grow up. For others, eczema continues into adulthood, and some people get it for the first time as adults. Even when it doesn’t go away, eczema can usually be managed.
Is eczema an allergy?
Not exactly. Eczema is not an allergy, but the two are often linked. People with eczema are more likely to have allergies, asthma, or hay fever, and allergens can trigger flares in some people.
Does eczema look different on darker skin?
Yes. On darker skin, eczema may look brown, purple, or gray rather than red, and it can leave lighter or darker patches after it heals. This can make eczema harder to recognize, so describe the itch and texture to your doctor, not just the color.
Can stress make eczema worse?
Yes. Stress is a common trigger for eczema flares, and the itch from a flare can add more stress. Sleep, stress management, and a steady skin care routine can all help break that cycle.