 [ Symptoms ] how do i tell the difference between my eczema and poison oakivey 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 is 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 not tell if i have poison oak or if i am having a really bad eczema flare up if it is poison oak i need to put something on it to dry it up if it is eczema then i need to put something on it moisturize it i am so confused [ Disease ] 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