This can cause the area to become infected, ooze fluid and spread over a wider area. The rash can also appear on the outside surfaces of the arms and legs. It often does not appear in the diapered area. In older children, the rash appears on the inner forearm, behind the knees, and opposite the elbows. Skin that is chronically covered with the rash over time will become dry, thickened and more brown in color.
Some children get the rash on the eyelids, palms of the hand and soles of the feet.
Teenagers and young adults get the rash most often in the bend of the elbow, back of the knees, ankles and wrists, and on the face, neck, chest, and palms of the hands and soles of the feet. A bacterial, fungal or viral infection also can cause a flare-up. Food allergies may trigger an episode in children, but rarely in adults. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious. Sometimes, though, scratching can lead to a bacterial infection.