Treating eczema herpeticum
Dermatitis can leave a person vulnerable to eczema herpeticum, an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition
13th November 2014
Eczema herpeticum is a serious, potentially life-threatening viral skin infection, usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 (see figure 1).
Figure 1: Eroded papules with surface crusting in eczema herpeticum affecting the face
It is often seen as a complication of atopic dermatitis but may occur in other chronic skin barrier conditions, such as Darier's disease.1