Eczema.com

Whenever I get a disease or illness, one of the first things I want to know is, is it contagious? Incidentally, anytime one of my friends, colleagues, or family members gets sick, I want to know the same thing. Should people stay away from me? Should I stay away from them?

Let’s talk about eczema. Is it contagious? Can you get eczema by touching someone else? Or will you get eczema if your eczema-suffering baby drools on you?

The Answer: Eczema is Not Contagious

Thankfully, it’s an easy question to answer. Eczema is not contagious.  “Contagious” simply means “able to be transmitted from person to person,” but no matter how hard you try, you cannot pass your eczema off to anyone else.

The Causes:  Eczema is Impossible to Transfer

It all goes back to the causes of eczema. At its core, eczema is a genetic condition. Genetic disorders can be transmitted only through reproduction…but that’s not exactly what we call contagious.

The Effects:  Eczema-Related Infections May Be Contagious

But here comes the disclaimer. Although eczema itself is not contagious, some infections from eczema may be contagious. Because eczema affects the skin so severely, to the point of crippling the skin’s immune system, the skin’s surface is more susceptible to various diseases such as staph infections. These types of infections are contagious, so if you or someone you know has infections as a result of their eczema, they must exercise extreme caution around other people.

Since eczema is not contagious, you can interact with others who have it and not worry about getting it. If you have eczema yourself, you can assure those around you that they will not get eczema by being around you. It’s not contagious. Nonetheless, you owe it to yourself to do what you can to treat the eczema and minimize its adverse effects.