eczema
/ˈeksɪmə/ (UK), /ˈeksəmə/ or /ˈɛɡzəmə/ (US)
noun
-
A medical condition in which patches of skin become dry, red, itchy, and inflamed, sometimes cracking or blistering. It often starts in childhood and can come and go over time.
B2uncountablemedical
- "My son has eczema, so we use a special cream every day."B1
- "Stress and certain soaps can trigger flare-ups of eczema in people with sensitive skin."C1
Common mistakes
- I have eczemas on my hands→I have eczema on my hands
"Eczema" is usually uncountable when referring to the condition, so it is not normally used in the plural.
- eczema is contagious→eczema is not contagious
Eczema cannot be passed from person to person; learners sometimes confuse it with infectious skin conditions.
- an eczema→eczema
Eczema is usually uncountable and takes no article when referring to the condition in general.