Atopic Dermatitis Skin Infections: What to Know
EczemaTake Control of Atopic Dermatitis

What to Know About Atopic Dermatitis-Related Infections

What to Know About Atopic Dermatitis-Related Infections
Adobe Stock
By
Updated on March 16, 2026
by
When areas of skin affected by atopic dermatitis (AD) morph from itchy, red patches to oozing blisters or sores with yellow pus or scabs, you’re probably dealing with more than a flare. In all likelihood, you’ve developed an infection.

Infections are routine complications of AD, which is the most common type of eczema. And people with AD are more likely than those who don’t have the condition to develop bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections.

But even though you may be at increased risk of a skin infection thanks to AD, you aren’t guaranteed to develop one. There are ways to help keep bacteria and other pathogens from (literally) getting under your skin. And, if you do wind up with an infection, prompt treatment should clear it right up.

Why Skin Infections Occur With Atopic Dermatitis

Everyone’s skin has its own unique microbiome — a diverse community of microorganisms that form a barrier, which helps protect your skin against pathogens. The skin also has a chemical barrier, which includes peptides (chains of amino acids) that work with the microbiome and other components of the skin’s barrier to help keep potentially harmful microbes in check.

People with AD have a breakdown in this skin barrier — specifically, lower-than-normal amounts of certain infection-fighting peptides in the skin. This makes people with AD more susceptible to harmful fungi, viruses and bacteria that can enter the skin and cause infections, says Ahmad Amin, MD, a dermatologist who specializes in AD and eczema at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

Two pathogens in particular are known to cause infections in skin affected by AD:

  • Staphylococcus: The type of bacteria most likely to enter skin is Staphylococcus, which resides on the skin of 30 to 50 percent of all people and is even more common in people with eczema. While staph doesn’t usually cause problems, some bacteria — most commonly, S. aureus — can enter through broken skin and cause an infection. S. aureus infections occur more frequently in people with AD, and it can also cause eczema flares.

  • Herpes simplex viruses: One type of herpes simplex virus, HSV-1, affects about two-thirds of all people worldwide, while the other, HSV-2, affects a much smaller proportion of the population. A person with AD who’s been infected with either herpes simplex virus can develop a severe skin condition known as eczema herpeticum, which causes an eruption of skin sores throughout the body, particularly in areas where there is atopic dermatitis, says Dr. Amin.

Signs and Symptoms of Infection

At first glance, it may be hard to tell the difference between a garden-variety atopic dermatitis flare and an AD-related skin infection. But, there are several visual symptoms of the latter to be aware of:

  • Red sores that are warm to the touch, especially if they secrete yellowish fluid or develop a honey-colored crust
  • Blisters
  • Significant itching
  • Bumps that resemble pimples or boils — red, swollen, and painful
If the infection is severe enough to spread to parts of the body other than skin, you may develop a fever, chills, or nausea.

Another sign: AD symptoms that aren’t improving with your usual treatments. “[Atopic dermatitis] will not get better until the infection is treated first,” says Amin.

If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor to get a definitive diagnosis of infection and find out what caused it.

Treatment and Prevention

If you have a mild bacterial infection, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment. If a large area of skin is affected or you have a lot of oozing and crusting, you may need to take an oral antibiotic for a few days to control the infection, says Amin.

In the case of eczema herpeticum, your doctor will prescribe an oral antiviral medication to treat the herpes simplex virus. “Herpes infections can be easily managed if you catch them early on,” says Amin.

As for guarding against infections, talk to your dermatologist about taking diluted bleach baths once or twice a week, or regularly use a body wash that contains sodium hypochlorite. Keep in mind, though, that skin care measures like these may not be very effective if you aren’t treating your AD. This may mean considering targeted systemic therapy if less aggressive treatments aren’t working.

And, as tempting as it may be to scratch an itchy patch of AD, scratching can cause breaks in the skin, allowing bacteria, fungi, and viruses inside, says Amin.

“Getting good control of your atopic dermatitis is the best way to prevent and reduce your chance of getting a skin infection,” says Amin.

The Takeaway

  • Infections are routine complications of atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema.
  • Symptoms of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections may be very hard to distinguish from uninfected AD; yellow pus or scabs are common, as are painful, swollen bumps.
  • An infection won’t respond to typical AD treatment and can spread beyond the skin, so getting the correct diagnosis is important.
  • You can reduce your risk of infections with AD by taking diluted bleach baths and treating the condition adequately.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): Symptoms & Causes. Mayo Clinic. May 15, 2024.
  2. Atopic Dermatitis. Cleveland Clinic. March 24, 2025.
  3. Napolitano M et al. Infections in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis and the Influence of Treatment. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. February 7, 2025.
  4. Wang S et al. The Interaction Between the Skin Microbiome and Antimicrobial Peptides Within the Epidermal Immune Microenvironment: Bridging Insights Into Atopic Dermatitis. Allergology International. January 2026.
  5. Staphylococci. Institut Pasteur. September 2024.
  6. Elizalde-Jiménez IG et al. Global Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Staphylococcus aureus in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Dermatology. September 25, 2024.
  7. Herpes Simplex Virus. World Health Organization. May 30, 2025.
  8. Infected Eczema. Cleveland Clinic. May 2, 2025.
  9. Treatment Tips to Tame Eczema with Gowri Kabbur, MD. Cleveland Clinic. February 7, 2024.
  10. Davis DMR et al. Guidelines of Care for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults With Phototherapy and Systemic Therapies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. February 2024.
  11. Berg S. What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Managing Eczema. American Medical Association. October 25, 2024.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
Susan-Bard-bio

Susan Bard, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.

She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.

Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.

See full bio
Colleen de Bellefonds

Colleen de Bellefonds

Author
Colleen de Bellefonds is a freelance journalist and editor who covers science, health, and parenting. Her reporting and writing regularly appears online for Well+Good, The Bump, and What to Expect, as well as in U.S. News & World Report, Women's Health, Self, and many other publications. She lives in Paris with her husband and two kids.
See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network