they do not look alike. but a person can sure have both. eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a chronic itchy dry skin condition that really likes some of those spots that you mentioned. eczema can come and go over a lifetime. a mainstay of treatment is moisturization reducing inflammation and controlling this itching using an antihistamine. poison oak dermatitis tends to form "linear vesiculations". blisters that form a line of sorts. it tends to ooze appearing on the most-exposed (to the plant oils) area first then to other areas that may have been touched by contaminated hands or objects. after a shower and a change of clothes poison oak does not spread by this drainage nor can you spread it to others. poison oak dermatitis lasts a few weeks and is most-effectively treated by oral (and topical) steroids. itching can be controlled by antihistamines.
how do i tell the difference between my eczema and poison oak/ivey? they look so much alike! . at first i thought i had poison oak on my feet. then the inside of my elbows became rash-like. it's been a month already and i still have a rash on my feet now my stomach around my groin and really bad on my elbows and even a few spots on the palm of my hand. i can't tell if i have poison oak or if i'm having a really bad eczema flare-up. if it's poison oak i need to put something on it to dry it up. if it's eczema then i need to put something on it moisturize it. i'm so confused!