What is the difference between infantile miliaria and infantile eczema?

There are significant differences between infantile miliaria and infantile eczema in several aspects: 1. Pathogenesis: Miliaria occurs when sweat glands on the epidermis become blocked, preventing sweat from being excreted normally, thereby causing redness and rash-like changes on the skin. In contrast, eczema results from impaired skin barrier function, allowing external irritants such as sweat stains and bacteria to penetrate into the dermis, causing dryness, skin damage, redness, itching, and other symptoms. 2. Rash appearance: Miliaria initially presents as reddened skin, followed by the appearance of small, pinhead-sized red papules or papulovesicles clustered closely together, which may develop into pustular miliaria in severe cases. Eczema appears as red patches that are dry and scaly, with a rough texture upon touch; severe cases may involve exudation and crusting. 3. Affected areas: Miliaria commonly occurs in areas prone to sweating and poor heat dissipation, such as the neck (front and back), elbow creases, and groin. Eczema can appear on any part of the body, especially areas prone to friction such as the cheeks, forehead, eyebrows, and behind the ears. 4. Onset and duration: Miliaria tends to develop rapidly during hot weather and usually resolves spontaneously when the weather turns cooler. Eczema develops more slowly and may persist for a long time or even recur repeatedly.