Eczema is classified as which type of skin condition?

Eczema is classified as an inflammatory skin condition. This is because it involves an inflammation of the skin that can lead to symptoms such as redness, itching, dryness, and swelling. The inflammation in eczema is typically driven by an immune response to various triggers, which can include allergens, stress, or environmental factors.

Understanding that eczema falls under inflammation helps clarify why inflammatory skin conditions often undergo changes like swelling and itchiness. Unlike infections, which are caused by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, eczema is not caused by an external organism. It also is not categorized as a lesion, which is usually seen as a specific area or patch of abnormal tissue, nor as a cyst, which refers to a closed sac-like structure that can contain fluid or other material. Recognizing these distinctions solidifies the classification of eczema in the realm of inflammatory skin conditions.