Eczema symptoms and progression can vary widely per person.
How people experience eczema can also change with age. For example, certain eczema symptoms and types may be more common at different times in life. Doctors may also recommend different treatments depending on your age.
Read on to learn more about how eczema can change with age, including differences in its severity, symptoms, and treatment.
How eczema changes with age
Eczema is a chronic or long-term condition. Some people may experience continuous eczema or have symptoms that come and go throughout their entire lives.
However, eczema can also change with time.
Some people who have eczema as children grow out of it and no longer experience the condition as teenagers or adults.
However, in some cases, childhood eczema continues into adulthood or improves but comes back later.
Eczema can appear anywhere on the body at any age.
However, eczema more commonly affects certain body areas at different ages, for example:
Some types of eczema are more common in adults than children.
Nummular or discoid eczema causes circular patches of itchy, irritated skin.
It is most common in people assigned female at birth between the ages of 15 and 25 and people male at birth between the ages of 50 and 65.
Neurodermatitis often starts as an itching sensation in a patch of skin. Scratching the skin can then cause a rash to form.
Adults between the ages of 30 and 50 get neurodermatitis most frequently.
Learn more about nummular eczema and neurodermatitis, including their symptoms.
Varicose eczema occurs when impaired blood flow in the legs causes skin swelling and discoloration. This can happen due to venous insufficiency or varicose veins.
The condition is also called venous, gravitational, or stasis eczema.
See more about stasis dermatitis symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Asteatotic eczema, eczema craquelé, or xerotic eczema occurs when the skin loses too much water. As a result, you may develop dry, irritated skin on the shins, thighs, and torso.
It is most common in older adults living in dry, cold climates.
Read more about asteatotic eczema, including its triggers and treatment.
Anyone can experience severe eczema.
However, some age-related skin changes may contribute to worse eczema in older adults, such as:
- dry or itchy skin
- impaired skin barrier
- weakened immune system, which may lead to more inflammation and heightened responses to triggers
Older adults are more likely to have other health conditions or take other medications. This can make finding appropriate treatments challenging.
For example, some doctors may not want to prescribe steroid medications for people with thinning skin. Also, immunosuppressant medications may not be appropriate for people with weaker immune systems.
However, there are other treatment options that are safe and effective for older adults. One example is dupilumab (Dupixent), an injectable biologic medication that works by blocking immune proteins that lead to inflammation. A 2023 study reported that dupilumab was effective and highly safe in adults ages 80 and older.
A 2018 study also suggests that light therapy can be effective and reliable for people ages 65 and older with eczema.
Treating eczema in children can also have some challenges, such as difficulty avoiding scratching or keeping up with eczema treatment at school.
Talk with a doctor if you have any concerns about eczema treatment, including its safety and effectiveness.
Read more about eczema treatment options and managing advanced eczema.
The outlook of eczema can vary widely per person. There is also no way to predict whether your eczema will go away or come back.
Generally, eczema is a long-term condition and often requires regular or ongoing care.
Still, eczema treatment options can be effective at improving symptoms, reducing the impact of triggers, and improving quality of life.
Talk with a doctor if you have any questions about eczema treatment or outlook.
Eczema can improve or get worse with age, depending on the person.
While some age-related factors can affect eczema, the condition is highly personal. As a result, you may experience eczema differently from someone else — whether or not you are the same age.
However, older adults may be more likely to develop eczema on their hands, have severe eczema, or develop certain eczema types.
Doctors may also recommend different treatments based on your age and underlying health.
Talk with a doctor if you have any questions about eczema and its outlook.