Pop Quiz: 13 Questions to Test Your Eczema IQ

Four young kids sitting at a desk in their classroom with three kids raising their hands
Articles

By Clare Maloney

Published On: Jul 17, 2023

Last Updated On: Jun 12, 2024

You’ve got the basics down, but how much do you really know about eczema? Test your knowledge to see if you know these surprising facts about this complex condition: 

A. Elastin
B. Filaggrin
C. Collagen
D. Keratin

Answer: B. Filaggrin, a protein that helps maintain moisture in the skin. 

2. Pruritus is the medical term for which eczema symptom?

A. Itch
B. Dry skin
C. Swelling
D. Inflammation

Answer: A. Itch, the most common symptom of eczema. 

3. Lichenification is an eczema-related term meaning which of the following?

A. A scratch or a wound caused by scratching or picking at the skin
B. A bend or curve in the body
C. Skin that’s thick and leathery from scratching or rubbing
D. Patches of skin that are lighter than your overall skin tone

Answer: C. Skin that’s thick and leathery from scratching or rubbing. Learn more about lichenification (and other terms you might hear from your dermatologist) here.  

4. Three of the following five celebrities are known to have eczema. Who are they?

A. Elle Fanning 
B. Jada Pinkett Smith
C. Cyndi Lauper
D. Kerry Washington 
E. Brad Pitt

Answer: A. Elle Fanning, D. Kerry Washington, E. Brad Pitt (Celebrities — they’re just as itchy!)

5. Roughly how many people in the U.S. have eczema?

A. 750,000
B. 7.2 million
C. 31.6 million
D. 110 million

Answer: C. 31.6 million Americans have some form of eczema.

6. What is the term used to describe the vicious cycle in which someone with eczema feels an itch and scratches it, causing inflammation and more itching sensations, more scratching and so on?

A. The AD vortex
B. The CASM Method
C. The itch-scratch cycle 
D. The skin barrier cycle 

Answer: C. The itch-scratch cycle leads to more inflammation and more scratching. Read more about the science behind why we itch here

7. The word “eczema” is derived from the Greek word “ekzein” which means:

A. Bumpy
B. Boil over
C. Scratch
D. Inflammation

Answer: B. Boil over. Read more about eczema’s roots here.

8. True or false: Eczema is an autoimmune condition.

A. True. Eczema is an autoimmune condition.
B. False. Eczema is not an autoimmune condition.

Answer: False. Eczema is not an autoimmune condition. However, the immune system does play a large role in eczema. 

9. Which of the following is NOT an eczema treatment in development?

A. Tralokinumib
B. Lebrikizumab
C. Cendakimab
D. Rocatinlimab
E. Astegolimab

Answer: A. Tralokinumib is NOT an eczema treatment in development, but you can read about eczema treatments that are in development here.

10. Name three ways eczema treatments can be administered. 

A. Topically
B. Orally
C. Intravenously 
D. Injection 

Answer: Eczema treatments can be administered A. topically, B. orally or D. by injection. 

11. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven types of eczema?

A. Contact dermatitis
B. Neurodermatitis
C. Stamos dermatitis
D. Nummular eczema

Answer: C. Stamos dermatitis is NOT one of the seven types of eczema.

12. Which of the following is NOT an eczema-related condition?

A. Keratoconus
B. Mastoiditis 
C. Dermatillomania
D. Asthma
E. Impetigo

Answer: B. Mastoiditis is not a related or comorbid condition. Read more about conditions related to eczema here.

13. This type of eczema is most likely to be triggered by an inflammatory reaction to excess Malassezia yeast, also sometimes called pityrosporum.

A. Nummular eczema
B. Atopic dermatitis
C. Dyshidrotic eczema
D. Seborrheic dermatitis 

Answer: D. Seborrheic dermatitis is often triggered by this reaction. Learn more about symptoms, causes and treatments for seborrheic dermatitis here.

How’d you do? 

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