Eczema is "a general term for any superficial inflammatory process involving the epidermis primarily, marked early by redness, itching, minute papules and vesicles, weeping, oozing and crusting, and later by scaling, lichenification and often pigmentation."1 It is also used specifically to refer to the condition atopic dermatitis.
The word eczema comes from the Greek word ekzein meaning "to boil out"; the Greek word ek means "out," while the Greek word zema means "boiling."
