Exploring The Treatment Options
Eczema and psoriasis are both long-term conditions that require long-term treatments. Treatment may depend on the severity of symptoms as well as the size and location of the affected area of skin. Common treatments include topical anti-inflammatories, hydrating skin creams, phototherapy, and biologic or systemic drugs to control the bodys inflammatory and immune responses.
In addition to discussing treatment options with your doctor, its important to avoid factors that may trigger or worsen your symptoms. Eczema may be worsened by wetness or allergies as well as certain cleansers, soaps, and detergents. Psoriasis flare-ups are more likely to follow injuries to the skin and can also be brought about by stress or infection.
The first step in resolving your skin issues is to talk to your doctor to receive a diagnosis. Though both eczema and psoriasis can be chronic, finding the right treatment may help relieve symptoms and reduce flare-ups.
What Innovative Treatments Do You Offer For Eczema And Psoriasis
Correct diagnosis is the first step. We take a thorough patient history and perform detailed testing to determine the skin condition. Depending on your history and symptoms, we may ask for tests such as a biopsy, patch tests or other diagnostic studies. Once we are sure of the diagnosis, we will make treatment recommendations.
We offer a wide range of extensive topical and systemic therapies, as well as ultraviolet light therapycalled phototherapy. UV therapy given in a controlled medical setting can be extremely effective treatments for both conditions depending on the patient.
Dont Miss: Safe Psoriasis Treatment While Pregnant
What Does Psoriasis Look Like
Red or silvery scales on the skin are typical features that distinguish psoriasis from atopic dermatitis. The most common type, plaque psoriasis, begins as small red round bumps that grow larger and form a scale. Scratching can pull the scales off the skin and result in bleeding.
Psoriatic rash or patches can erupt anywhere on the skin, sometimes all over the body . However, the common areas are as follows:
Read Also: Best Coconut Oil For Psoriasis
What Is The Difference Between Psoriasis And Plaque Psoriasis Topic Guide
Psoriatic arthritis is a specific autoimmune condition in which a person has both psoriasis and arthritis. Some psoriatic arthritis symptoms and signs include scaly red skin on certain areas of the body, nail changes, eye inflammation, iritis, and inflammation of the muscles and tendons where they connect to the bone. There are a variety of psoriatic arthritis types. The goal of psoriatic arthritis treatment medications and lifestyle changes is to control inflammation.
Eczema Vs Psoriasis On The Face
Psoriasis is typically found on elbows and knees, but a person with scalp psoriasis may find patches extending to the forehead, ears, and other areas close to the face. Eczema may also be found on the face and appears as pus-filled blisters. In both cases, there can be extreme itching and discomfort.
You May Like: Is Sun Good For Psoriasis
What If Those Psoriasis Treatments Dont Work
If psoriasis doesnt improve, your healthcare provider may recommend these treatments:
- Light therapy: UV light at specific wavelengths can decrease skin inflammation and help slow skin cell production.
- PUVA: This treatment combines a medication called psoralen with exposure to a special form of UV light.
- Methotrexate: Providers sometimes recommend this medication for severe cases. It may cause liver disease. If you take it, your provider will monitor you with blood tests. You may need periodic liver biopsies to check your liver health.
- Retinoids: These vitamin A-related drugs can cause side effects, including birth defects.
- Cyclosporine: This medicine can help severe psoriasis. But it may cause high blood pressure and kidney damage.
- Immune therapies: Newer immune therapy medications work by blocking the bodys immune system so it cant jumpstart an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis.
Conditions They’re Linked To
Eczema usually comes along with dry, sensitive skin. You may have someone in your family who has it or has asthma or hay fever.
Psoriasis is linked to other serious health conditions. If you have it, you may also have diabetes, heart disease, or depression.
Whether it’s psoriasis or eczema, your doctor can recommend ways to get relief for it.
Also Check: Manuka Honey For Plaque Psoriasis
At What Age Do They Start
Eczema usually starts in babies or young children. Often, symptoms improve when a kid becomes a grown-up.
It’s less common, but possible, to get it as an adult. When that happens, it’s usually because you have another condition like thyroid disease, hormone changes, or stress.
Psoriasis, on the other hand, usually shows up between ages 15 and 35. But you can get it at other ages too. It’s rare for a baby to have it.
Conditions Theyre Linked To
Eczema usually comes along with dry, sensitive skin. You may have someone in your family who has it or has asthma or hay fever.
Psoriasis is linked to other serious health conditions. If you have it, you may also have diabetes, heart disease, or depression.
Whether its psoriasis or eczema, your doctor can recommend ways to get relief for it.
Also Check: Is Psoriasis Considered A Disability
Atopic Dermatitis Vs Psoriasis
Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are common, long-term skin diseases. Both are noncontagious. Because both the rashes look somewhat similar, the diagnosis may be difficult at the first glance, and a biopsy of the skin remains the last resort. However, certain things that can help differentiate between the two before the doctor orders a biopsy.
What Are The Differences
One of the biggest differences between eczema and psoriasis is how many people have each condition. Most of us know that psoriasis affects around 8 million people around the world. Would it surprise you if I said that people who have eczema are double that number? Thats right.
Eczema affects 16 million people. People with psoriasis are usually helped when using phototherapy. People with eczema are not. Phototherapy can irritate eczema. Psoriasis and eczema have different gene involvement within the skin hence why a skin biopsy can let the doctor know the difference.
Also Check: What Does Psoriasis Scalp Look Like
When Do Psoriasis And Eczema Usually Appear
Psoriasis usually appears between the ages of 16 and 22, but it can happen at any age.
Eczema usually begins younger, appearing as early as 6 months of age. Although some people grow out of eczema, many people continue to have it throughout their life. Even if you have eczema for a long time, there may be periods when it gets better or worse.
What Should You Do If You Develop Another Type Of Psoriasis
Life-threatening signs and symptoms, such as redness that covers most of your body, fever, and chills, require immediate medical care.
When signs and symptoms are not life threatening, you should see a board-certified dermatologist for a diagnosis. Youll find pictures of the different types of psoriasis and learn more about the possible signs and symptoms at Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms
ImagesImage 1: Getty ImagesImage 2: J Am Acad Dermatol 2013 69:245-52.
ReferencesBrummer GC, Hawkes JE, et al. Ustekinumab-induced remission of recalcitrant guttate psoriasis: A case series. JAAD Case Rep. 2017 3: 4325.
Egeberg A, Thyssen JP, et al. Prognosis after hospitalization for erythroderma. Acta Derm Venereol. 2016 96:959-92.
Gottlieb A, Korman NJ, et al. “Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Section 2. Psoriatic arthritis: Overview and guidelines of care for treatment with an emphasis on the biologics. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008 58:851-64.
Gudjonsson JE and Elder JT. Psoriasis. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine. McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008:178-81.
Khosravi H, Siegel MP, et al. Treatment of Inverse/Intertriginous Psoriasis: Updated Guidelines from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2017 16:760-6.
Navrotski BRF, Nihi FM, et al. Wet wrap dressings as a rescue therapy option for erythrodermic psoriasis. An Bras Dermatol. 2018 93:598-600.
Recommended Reading: I Have Psoriasis In My Ears
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Psoriasis is not a medical emergency. However, you should see your healthcare provider if your symptoms are not improving as expected with treatment.
Plaque Psoriasis Healthcare Provider Discussion Guid
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Psoriasis is not an infection. It is not contagious, and you cannot spread it to others.
People with psoriasis may be more likely to get skin infections like cellulitis, especially if their skin is actively irritated. People taking certain types of psoriasis medications are also more likely to get some kinds of infections. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of an infection, like skin warmth, swelling, or a fever.
Some people with plaque psoriasis may have a higher risk of skin cancer, particularly after extensive exposure to PUVA light therapy treatments. See your healthcare provider promptly if you notice any skin changes unlike your normal pattern of psoriasis.
Difference Between Psoriasis And Yeast Infection
Our 4th Annual Microbiology and Immunology Virtual Conference is now available On Demand! Participants will explore and discover new concepts, tools and techniques to apply to ongoing research and.
For example, rashes from exposure to chemicals are common. Tinea cruris, commonly called jock itch, is a rash caused by a fungus, often in the groin area.
Ringworm is a fungal infection that will go away with treatment. Psoriasis is a.
Some important distinctions between psoriasis and ringworm include.
Abnormal Menstrual Bleeding However, in some cases, differences or changes in your menstrual bleeding are.
Examples of abnormal uterine bleeding include: Bleeding between periods Bleeding after sex Spotting anytime in the.
Your provider can help you come up with a treatment plan to get relief and can talk with you about preventing yeast infections in the future.
The Australasian Psoriasis Collaboration has developed a clinical practice narrative with respect to the relationship between psoriasis, its treatment and infection. The cutaneous microbiome of patients with psoriasis is different to those without psoriasis, although the significance of this is unclear. Whilst a wide range of microorganisms has.
You will experience firsthand the ongoing collaboration between the genomic scientists, clinical laboratory scientists and clinicians. You will learn how new advances in next-generation sequencing,
The difference between the two is important.
Also Check: What Does Salicylic Acid Do For Psoriasis
Still Unsure Time For Some Help
Most persons will have difficulty discerning the condition. The best bet is to visit a dermatologist. Dermatologists can perform different tests to diagnose the condition clearly. There are no cures for either eczema and psoriasis. Rest assured, the doctor will provide the right medication and advice for the right disease.
You Might Also Enjoyâ¦
Also Check: What Shampoo Helps With Psoriasis
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Plaque psoriasis is a complex life long disorder with enormous morbidity. Thus, it is best managed by an interprofessional team.
Insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases are more common in psoriatic patients as are metabolic comorbidities. Obesity is the most common comorbidity observed in children with psoriasis. Many patients present with reduced quality of life and psychological manifestations and need special attention and counseling. Thus, primary care clinicians should advocate lifestyle modification such as reducing weight, reducing alcohol intake and smoking cessation may help control psoriasis, improve the results of treatment and prevent future complications.
Sudden onset, palmoplantar keratoderma, severe nail dystrophy, the involvement of skin folds should arouse suspicion of associated HIV infection in whom pustular forms are also more common with a higher frequency of arthritis.
Teaching Points
Outcomes
Don’t Miss: Can Psoriasis Cause Rheumatoid Arthritis
How Is Seborrheic Dermatitis Treated
Treatment may depend on the severity of your condition. Everyone responds differently to medication, so it may take a few tries to find the right solution for you.
For some people, dandruff clears up on its own. Over-the-counter shampoos and medication are usually enough to improve flaking and soothe itching. If not, ask your doctor about prescription-strength products.
In babies, cradle cap doesnt always require treatment. It generally resolves well before the first birthday. In the meantime, use a mild baby shampoo. Massage the scalp gently using a very soft brush. Be gentle breaking the skin can lead to infection. If youre concerned about your babys scalp, see their pediatrician.
Different Forms Of Psoriasis
Guttate Psoriasis
This usually occurs in adolescents within few weeks after a hemolytic streptococcal infection. The lesions disappear spontaneously.
Pustular Psoriasis
Can occur as chronic deep-seated lesions or generalized pustular psoriasis
Flexural Psoriasis
This is the form of psoriasis that occurs in places such as submammary, axillary and anogenital folds. Scales are rare, but there is a characteristic glistening nature.
Napkin Psoriasis
This appears in the area covered by the diapers. Babies who get napkin psoriasis are more likely to get psoriasis in the adult life.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis which is triggered by the irritant effect of chemicals such as tar.
Recommended Reading: What Vitamins Can Help Psoriasis
Summary Of Actinic Keratosis Vs Psoriasis
- Actinic keratosis and psoriasis both are skin afflictions, but the keratosis is the only condition that can become cancer.
- Actinic keratosis is caused by exposure to UV radiation from tanning beds and sun exposure.
- Psoriasis is due to inflammation of the skin, which could be a result of a number of factors, including sometimes, a bad sunburn.
- Actinic keratosis and psoriasis both result in skin patches developing that can be unsightly.
Measles: A Facial Rash That Can Cover The Body
Like guttate psoriasis, measles also follow symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in children and cause a skin rash of small, red spots. However, the measles skin rash usually starts on the face and spreads down to cover the body and is accompanied by fever, cough, and a runny nose. Measles rash is also flat, while the rash of psoriasis is typically raised. Measles is caused by a virus and is contagious, though the measles vaccination has made this a rare disease in the United States.
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Genital Psoriasis Naturally
Difference Between Psoriasis And Dermatitis
Categorized under Disease | Difference Between Psoriasis and Dermatitis
Psoriasis vs Dermatitis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that happens when the immune system sends out faulty signals that make the skin cells grow too fast. It is not contagious and has five types:
Guttate, which are small, scaly, red, and tear-drop shaped lesions. They usually appear on the body and the scalp.Inverse, which are smooth patches of skin that appear on skin folds such as in the genital area.Pustular, which appear as bumps that are filled with pus usually appearing on the hands and feet.Erythrodermic, which are accompanied with itching, swelling, and pain. This happens when treatment of plaque psoriasis is suddenly stopped. This type of psoriasis can be fatal.Plaque, which is the most common type of psoriasis, appears as red-and-white scaly patches on the first layer of the skin.
Psoriasis usually appears on elbows, knees, scalp, palms, soles, and the genitals. The fingernails and toenails can also be affected, and psoriasis can cause psoriatic arthritis. It is chronic and in severe cases can completely cover the body.
Dermatitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation or rash of the skin. It is synonymous to eczema which is also a chronic condition. There are several types of dermatitis, namely:
Summary:
How Is Psoriasis Treated
Psoriasis of the scalp may be harder to treat. Topical corticosteroids may help reduce inflammation and slow the growth of skin cells.
Psoriasis can also be treated with light therapy. Systemic treatment may be beneficial for stubborn psoriasis. This may involve injectable medications. It may take a combination of treatments to get psoriasis under control.
Don’t Miss: Laser Treatment For Nail Psoriasis
What Is Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis associated with extreme inflammation, itching and pain that affects most of the body. Other symptoms include large sheets of shedding skin , an increase in heart rate, swelling due to fluid retention and significant changes in your body temperature. Its important to seek immediate medical attention if you’re experiencing a flare-up of erythrodermic psoriasis as it can lead to pneumonia or heart failure if left untreated.6
Are There Complications Of Psoriasis
In some people, psoriasis causes more than itchiness and red skin. It can lead to swollen joints and arthritis. If you have psoriasis, you may be at higher risk of:
- Use medicated shampoo for scales on your scalp.
Other steps you should take to stay as healthy as possible:
- Talk to your healthcare provider about lowering your risk for related conditions, such as heart disease, depression and diabetes.
- Lower your stress with meditation, exercise or seeing a mental health professional.
You May Like: Does My Baby Have Eczema Or Psoriasis
What Is Pustular Psoriasis
This type of psoriasis appears as small blisters surrounded by red skin and can be limited to certain areas of the body or cover most of the body. With this psoriasis type, the redness usually appears first, before the pustules and scaling develop. It’s worth noting that these blisters associated with pustular psoriasis are filled with white blood cells and are not contagious.5
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis
Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Though most commonly experienced in the fingers, toes and along the spine, psoriatic arthritis can affect any part of your body, and the pain and swelling can range from mild to severe. Similar to other psoriasis types, there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, and its imperative that those with this type of psoriasis seek medical treatment, as symptoms can become disabling if left untreated.7
Also Check: Best Over The Counter Scalp Psoriasis Treatment
How Is Plaque Psoriasis Treated
While there’s no cure for psoriasis, Dr. Friedman says there are many treatment options that can clear up these skin lesions.
“The question isn’t how are you going to treat psoriasis, it’s which are you going to pick because we have so many options,” he says. And there are more and better treatments all the time. “We used to be happy clearing someone by 75%, but now we treat to clear it. We have drugs that will get you 99% clear.”
Treatment options include:
- Topical creams and ointments, such as steroid creams
- Systemic treatments, meaning medications used to slow down the immune system
- Biologic medications, or drugs that target areas and are not systemic
- Alternative options, such as salt baths and aloe vera