The mildest form of eczema involves chronic dry skin and itching. Some people never develop the inflammatory symptoms associated with acute eczema, but the condition is still unpleasant and requires treatment with emollient therapy. At its worst, acute eczema can involve a whole range of severe symptoms including dry skin, inflammation, itching, blistering, redness, scaling and weeping. Once someone has been suffering from acute eczema, their symptoms may enter a long term stage, as the skin function deteriorates. This is known as chronic eczema.
Scales appear as cell turnover increases.
Itching and scratching leads to fissuring of the epidermis when the skin becomes broken and cracked. The skin is still very dry. It usually starts in young babies who have dry, itchy, sore cheeks, which they may try to relieve by rubbing on the pillow. The condition progresses down the body, affecting the creases of the knees and elbows if it's a mild case, or the whole body if severe. It also often occurs on the scalp.