It is hard to say what your itchy, cracking, dry, peeling and sometimes weeping rash might be without seeing it.
Both atopic dermatitis and eczema are skin conditions in which the skin becomes red, itchy, dry and swollen. The skin might look similar in both conditions. Cracks might be present if the condition was not treated adequately, thus increasing the chances for bacterial skin inflammation.
The main difference between atopic dermatitis and eczema is that in eczema the allergen is in direct contact with the skin where as in atopic dermatitis the allergen might be in contact with other parts of the body rather then skin. Presence of eczema does not rule out atopic dermatitis. The heredity plays a big role in atopic dermatitis. It is also closely related to some other atopic conditions like: hay fever, asthma and allergic conjunctivitis.
The most important treatment in both cases is avoiding contact with the allergen. Using moisturizers might be help with the dryness of the skin and the cracks. In more severe cases corticosteroid creams are used to reduce the skin inflammation.
A dermatologist is the specialist who should recommend the adequate treatment.
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