# Eczema --- **Eczema**, also known as **atopic dermatitis** is a chronic [[skin]] condition characterized by superficial [[inflammation]] and intense [[pruritus|itching]]. There are two main theroies for what causes eczema. One is that it is a [[hypersensitivity]] reaction, and another is that it is a genetic defect that causes the epitheliail cells to be structurally different, which allow antigens to enter the tissue and stimulate cytokines. ___