What is skin asthma?

A misnomer: It's a form of skin allergy called eczema, also called atopic dermatitis. It manifests as red scaly patches anywhere in the body. Treatment includes heavy moisturization and avoidance of allergens if possible. Several oral medications are also available.

Eczema: Some physicians in israel (& perhaps elsewhere) refer to eczema during infancy as "skin asthma". The reason? A large percentage of children developing eczema before their first birthday will also develop asthma by the 4th birthday. Referring to eczema as skin asthma draws attention to this phenomenon and possibly helps prepare the family for the next phase.