Does it look the same in the acute and chronic stages?

Acute eczema will occur quite quickly – hours or a few days –
sometimes in previously normal skin. Little blisters may appear
and then break to give a weeping surface. The underlying skin will
be red, perhaps swollen and often a little bumpy. Most acute eczema
is very itchy, but when the skin surface has broken down, this may
be replaced by soreness. As days go by, crusting and then scaling
may occur alongside the weeping or gradually replace it.
‘Chronic eczema’ is eczema that has been present for a long
time – usually at least weeks. The ongoing inflammation, rubbing
and scratching all contribute to an increased thickness of the skin,
which may develop a leathery appearance and show much more
prominent skin surface markings. In dark skin, there may be
changes in the pigmentation – both an increase and a decrease are
possible. This thickened skin is liable to split, producing painful
fissures, especially over the joints.I get very confused by all the different types of eczema
that can affect the skin. You say that the final process in
the skin is the same for all of them. Why can’t we just call
it eczema and get on with treating it?
Despite the fact that, at microscopic level, the skin looks very
similar in the different types of eczema, this is the end stage as the
skin can only behave in so many different ways when disordered.
The main reason for trying to label the different patterns accurately
is that the cause, severity and outcome vary enormously between
the different eczemas. Whereas some of the treatments are similar
for the different types, there are many that are more specific, so
accurate diagnosis is essential. Treating eczema is also not just
about creams: it must involve prevention, and this is much more
possible in some types than in others.