Eczema is a condition that causes inflammation in the skin. It is the most common type of condition and is known as atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema. Atopic refers to a group of diseases with a tendency to develop various allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever. Eczema affects the skin which causes redness, itching and sometimes infections. It usually begins as red, raised tiny blisters on the skin that contains a clear fluid and atop red, elevated plaques. When the blisters break, the affected parts will weep and ooze. In older and chronic eczema, the blisters become less prominent and the skin becomes thickened, elevated, and scaling. Eczema almost always is very itchy.