is a dry skin condition that may be red, sore and dry. Its chief characteristic is the ‘itch’, which at times can become almost unbearable, causing a child to want to scratch constantly, especially at night, thereby interfering with sleep. If a child has moderate to severe atopic eczema, they may have red patches of skin (inflammation) and scratch until their skin bleeds. However, since the skin is very dry, it can also crack and bleed of its own accord. Any cracked, raw or bleeding areas are especially vulnerable to infection., Atopic eczema is a dry skin condition that may be red, sore and dry. Its chief characteristic is the ‘itch’, which at times can become almost unbearable, causing a child to want to scratch constantly, especially at night, thereby interfering with sleep. If a child has moderate to severe atopic eczema, they may have red patches of skin (inflammation) and scratch until their skin bleeds , What is childhood eczema? When a child develops eczema, it’s usually a type of eczema known as atopic dermatitis. This type of eczema usually begins by 5 years of age. Is atopic dermatitis contagious? No Could my child have eczema? If you think your child could have eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis), the earlier it’s diagnosed the .