Medical Encyclopedia

Dermatitis, atopic on the legs

These red (erythematous), scaly plaques on the legs are caused by an inherited allergic condition called atopic dermatitis.Many of these areas have been scratched until they are raw and infected, with the infection triggering and perpetuating the problem.In adults, atopic dermatitis frequentlyinvolves the body creases (inside elbows, behind knees).