Rational approach to the management of eczemas

Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease commonly encountered in clinical practice where the underlying cause often appears uncertain. Diagnosis is essentially clinical, depending on clinical signs which varies with the stage of evolution of the inflammatory process. Although the mainstay of treatment is still topical corticosteroid preparations, much more can be done if an accurate diagnosis of the type of eczema is made and patients advised about the prognosis, and natural history of this troublesome and sometimes disabling condition.