Sometimes dry red patches appear all over the body. In older children the skin folds are most often affected, especially the elbow creases and behind the knees. In adults the face and hands are more likely to be involved. The result is oozing, crusting, with pustules, and usually causes the eczema to suddenly get worse. No permanent cure is possible, although with time atopic eczema usually improves.
Most people are able to live comfortably with their skin condition with the following measures.
The home, especially the bedroom, should be kept as free of dust as possible. It is better not to have any pets. It is particularly important that growing children have a broad range of nutritional foods. But, if a particular substance consistently aggravates the skin problem, it is reasonable to avoid it for a while. Professional advice can be obtained from a registered dietician.