Eczema is a common long-term skin condition that causes the skin to be itchy, dry and red. It may start at any age but often in babies and can run in families.
Some children with eczema can also have asthma, hayfever and/or food allergies. The cause of eczema is complex but genes can play a part. A relative may have ‘atopy’ which is a tendency to eczema, asthma or hayfever. Allergy testing would identify food allergies if symptoms suggest this is necessary but would not show a cause for eczema.