Atopic dermatitis often appears where the skin flexes.
Previous Next 1 of 12 Atopic dermatitis

Skin rashes can occur from a variety of factors, including infections, heat, allergens, immune system disorders and medications. One of the most common skin disorders that causes a rash is atopic dermatitis (ay-TOP-ik dur-muh-TI-tis), also known as eczema.

Atopic dermatitis is an ongoing (chronic) rash that causes skin to become thickened, itchy and dry. On brown and Black skin, the condition may also cause small bumps around hair follicles that look like goose bumps.

Most often the rashy patches of atopic dermatitis occur where the skin flexes — such as inside the knees (A) and on the ankles (B). The condition tends to flare up periodically.

At-home interventions can lessen symptoms and reduce the risk of flare-ups. Self-care habits include:

  • Avoiding harsh soaps and other irritants
  • Applying creams or lotions regularly
  • Applying prescription anti-itch creams or ointments

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

April 29, 2022

See also

  1. Managing Meningitis
  2. Mayo Clinic Minute Meningitis 101 for college students
  3. Meningitis
  4. TEN