Acute/sub-acute/severe eczema phase
This is the first eczema stage. The skin comes in contact with an irritant, which leads to red, itchy skin that smells. Experts advise people to resist the urge to scratch itchy skin, as it can exacerbate the rash and slow down healing. It can also make the skin prone to infections.
In this stage, the symptoms of the two disorders may differ. For instance, people with contact dermatitis may experience small blisters of vesicles when exposed to certain allergens.
Atopic dermatitis
As stated earlier, atopic dermatitis is the most common and dangerous type of eczema. The common symptoms of eczema include dry, itchy skin. If you have a family history of eczema, you are more prone to experiencing eczema. According to studies, identical twins are 75 percent more susceptible to the condition if one twin is affected.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis results in an itchy rash and reddened inflamed skin. In most cases, the rash is shaped like an irritant. If you are exposed to a poison ivy plant, you would experience linear lines. In most cases, you start to experience symptoms 1 or 2 days after exposure to an allergen. The symptoms may last for 2 to 4 weeks.
Sub-acute eczema phase is the transitional phase, also called the healing phase. To avoid flare-ups, you should pay sufficient attention to the condition.
Discoloured scaly patches may occur if you scratch the rash regularly. Your skin may also get leathery and thick. This phase is common in children because they cannot resist picking or scratching a rash.