When To See A Doctor For Psoriasis Or Eczema
The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends that anyone living with psoriasis see a dermatologist. Its especially important to see a dermatologist if your psoriasis symptoms are getting worse, if you develop new symptoms, if your joints start to hurt, or if the treatment recommended by your primary care physician isnt working.
If you have eczema and your symptoms get worse or if you show signs of an infectionred, painful, oozing, or blistery skinthen its best to see a doctor as soon as possible. If youve seen a doctor already and the treatment plan they gave you isnt working, a dermatologist will be able to give you more specialized care.
What Causes Scalp Eczema And Psoriasis
The exact cause of both skin conditions is unknown. Still, usually, a persons gene pool, immune system and environmental circumstances may disrupt the skin barrier leading to scalp eczema or psoriasis.
Some risk factors that may trigger scalp eczema are weather extremities, oily skin, stress, lack of sleep and even alcohol-based grooming products. Whereas if a person already has psoriasis anywhere else on the body, they are more likely to get psoriasis on the head. It is caused by an overactive immune system and could be genetic.
Keeping Skin Cells Healthy
There are various lifestyle changes and home treatments that can help you manage your psoriasis and eczema. Moisturizing your skin twice a day with oil-based emollients can help relieve symptoms associated with dry skin. Hot, dry air can worsen itching, so using a humidifier indoors is an option. An anti-itch cream or oral medication can help with itchy skin. You should also try to avoid scratching as much as possible. Pressing on the area or using wet bandages protects the skin and offers relief from itching to many patients with eczema and psoriasis.
It is also a good idea to use mild soaps, detergents, and household cleaning products that dont irritate the skin. Avoiding tight and rough clothing and wearing cool, smooth, loose-fitting clothing can help prevent skin irritation and scratching. Since stress can worsen both eczema and psoriasis, it is important to treat stress and anxiety and get mental healthcare, if needed.
Psoriasis and eczema can be frustrating, stressful, and embarrassing skin conditions to live with. However, both conditions are treatable and manageable. Doctors can use a variety of medications and treatments to make your life more comfortable.
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Wait And See After Second Moderna Dose
On Friday, May 7th, I received my second Moderna vaccine dose. The first forty-eight hours after the injection is a story for another blog post. The unpleasantness of it has not flared my skin so far, though. In fact, my skin is clearer now than other time in the past six months.
I did get my biologic for psoriasis two weeks ago, which may mitigate a psoriasis flare. Im eating better overalllessening the chance the eczema will flare up too. Im grateful nothing noticeable has happened on my skin. And, yes, Im checking quite often now that the side effects of the second dose have mostly worn off.
Whether or not Ill see similar skin breakouts that I had with the first vaccine dose remains to be seen.
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.
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Diagnosis Of Psoriasis Vs Eczema
Psoriasis is usually diagnosed when a dermatologist performs a visual exam and takes your medical and family history. In some cases, the doctor may do a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Read more details about psoriasis diagnosis.
Similarly, eczema is typically diagnosed by observing the skin and asking questions about medical and family history. A biopsy may also be done to help diagnose eczema. A patch test may be performed to see if the itchy rash is caused by an allergy to an external contact.
In some cases, genetic testing may be needed to differentiate between psoriasis and eczema.
Foods That Make Eczema And Psoriasis Worse
While the exact cause of eczema and psoriasis is not known, there are many factors that can make the symptoms worse, diet being one of them. If you have eczema or psoriasis there are certain foods that can cause flare ups. Both conditions are extremely uncomfortable and can be embarrassing for some, but there are a number of things that an individual can do to help reduce these symptoms.
What is the difference between eczema and psoriasis? Eczema is a skin condition which causes rough and inflamed patches of skin. With eczema, the skin is usually itchy and can sometimes crack and blister. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to regenerate every 3-4 days . The rapid regeneration of skin sells causes a buildup of cells that causes scaling on the skins surface. Inflammation, itchiness, and redness are also symptoms.
Here are some foods that make eczema and psoriasis worse:
- Red Meat: Red meat is high in saturated fat and saturated fat can increase inflammation in your body. Try to limit or even eliminate foods that are high in saturated fat, including foods like butter and cheese.
- Gluten: Some people with eczema and psoriasis have found that by removing or limiting gluten in their diet their flare-ups have decreased. Gluten is a protein found in processed foods such as bread, pasta, and cereal, just to name a few.
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Eczema: Red Itchy Irritated Skin
Like psoriasis, eczema is a chronic skin condition that often causes intense itching. Scratching causes redness and inflammation of the skin, leading to a worsening of the eczema. Scratching can also cause a secondary bacterial infection. The most common type of eczema is caused by a reaction to irritants like detergents, soaps, or household cleansers. So if you have eczema, you should be careful to use mild soap and regularly moisturize your sensitive skin. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream or other medications if eczema is severe.
How To Tell The Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis
The most common form of psoriasis generally appears as red, scaly patches of dry skin with an overlying silver scale that may crack and bleed. Eczema patches can be brown-gray or red in appearance, may have pustules, and are typically less well-defined. Eczema tends to form where the skin folds, whereas psoriasis tends to be on the outer parts of the joints. Additionally, while both conditions cause itchy skin, the itching associated with eczema tends to be more extreme and almost universal for people with eczema.
Read more about psoriasis symptoms.
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Plaque Psoriasis: Red Bumps And Silvery Scales
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the chronic skin condition, affecting about 80 percent of people with psoriasis. Usually starting as small red bumps on the skin, plaque psoriasis develops into red patches with a silvery, scaly coating these raised patches are called plaques. Plaques usually show up on elbows, knees, and the lower back, and they can last for months or even years without treatment.
Eczema Can Look Like Psoriasis And Vice Versa
Now that you have the differences between eczema and psoriasis clearly in mind, its time to stir up the waters. Especially in the early stages of disease, eczema and psoriasis can resemble each other. In fact, if you go to a physician who isnt a dermatologist, you might actually get a misdiagnosis. Dermatologists, however, are highly trained in identifying and treating skin conditions. To the dermatology experts at Specialists in Dermatology, the differences in eczema and psoriasis are easy to identify through a simple visual examination. We may also biopsy your skin and look at it under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Because eczema is an inflammatory disorder and psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, the treatments for each condition may be different, depending on the severity of your case. You may be able to control mild eczema by avoiding allergic triggers and keeping your skin moist. If you have psoriasis, you may need intravenous therapies or biologics.
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The Differences In Appearances
Eczema makes your skin red and inflamed. It may be scaly, oozing, or crusty. You may see rough, leathery patches that are sometimes dark. It can also cause swelling.
Psoriasis can also cause red patches. They may be silvery and scaly — and raised. But if you look closely, the skin is thicker and more inflamed than with eczema.
Typical Onset For Psoriasis
While psoriasis can occur at any age, Garshick says that the average age of onset can occur at two different peaks, either 15-35 years or at 55-60 years old. Gmyrek adds to this, noting that, while rare, about 10 to 15 percent of psoriasis cases occur before the age of 10.
Whats more, Gmyrek points out that psoriasis tends to run in families, though, exactly whats passed down is not clear.
Additionally, she says that, unlike some skin conditions, men and women develop psoriasis at similar rates, and its seen across all racial groups. Caucasians develop psoriasis at a rate of about 3.6 percent compared with African-Americans who develop psoriasis at a rate of 1.9 percent, she adds.
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What Are The Clinical Features Of Palmoplantar Psoriasis
Palms and soles affected by psoriasis tend to be partially or completely red, dry and thickened, often with deep painful cracks . The skin changes tend to have a sharp border and are often symmetrical, ie similar distribution on both palms and/or both soles. At times, palmar psoriasis can be quite hard to differentiate from hand dermatitis and other forms of acquired keratoderma. Plantar psoriasis may sometimes be similar in appearance to tinea pedis. There may be signs of psoriasis elsewhere.
Palmoplantar psoriasis tends to be a chronic condition, ie, it is very persistent.
Compared to chronic plaque psoriasis on other sites, palmoplantar psoriasis is more commonly associated with:
Identifying Eczema Vs Psoriasis On The Face
When psoriasis affects the face it often appears on the hairline, in or behind the ear, or on the scalp. Though, it can also occur on the eyebrows and the skin surrounding the nose. The patches or plaques are often well defined with sharp borders. On the face, psoriasis sometimes occurs in association with seborrheic dermatitis, a common skin condition that can also cause red or pink scaly patches.
Conversely, eczema on the face is more common on the eyelid skin or around the mouth, often as a result of a contact dermatitis. Prolonged eczema around the eyes can make the skin look wrinkled and discolored, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as allergic shiners.
Given the similarities, it can be especially challenging to distinguish between eczema and psoriasis on the face. That said, the biggest hints are that eczema favors the area or around the eyes and mouth, while psoriasis favors the forehead, extending from the brows to the hairline, sometimes covering everything in between.
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Treatment Options For Scalp Eczema
A dermatologist may prescribe medicines based on the severity of the condition. Meanwhile, a few home remedies and treatment options are also available to soothe the symptoms.
- Avoid over washing and take a shower with lukewarm water. Itchy scalp and scaly skin caused due to scalp eczema can be misconstrued as bad dandruff. In response, you might be tempted to over wash your hair. But doing this will strip your scalp skin of its natural moisture and worsen eczema by making your skin dry.
Also, if you bathe with anything hotter than lukewarm water for a long duration, it might exaggerate the symptoms.
- Use gentle hair products. There may be irritants or harsh ingredients in your usual shampoo or conditioner that might be making your scalp eczema worse.
It is advised to use a gentle shampoo like Alphosyl 2-in-1 Medicated shampoo, Capasal shampoo or Dermax shampoo that contain Coal Tar an anti-scaling agent Salicylic Acid, Coconut Oil or Benzalkonium Chloride to treat dry, itchy scalp and severe dandruff in scalp eczema or even psoriasis of the scalp.
Psoriasis On The Hands
Although many people have patches of psoriasis on the backs of their hands and knuckles, others have outbreaks on the palms.
Intense peeling and dry skin on the hands can make even simple actions, such as washing hands or picking up a bag, very painful and uncomfortable.
Psoriasis on the hands may also include nail psoriasis. This condition causes overactive skin cells to produce too many new cells under the nails. This can look like a fungal infection that discolors the nails and even causes them to fall off.
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Psoriasis On Feet: Symptoms Causes And Treatments
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which skin cells grow and build up faster than normal. Some people with psoriasis develop symptoms on their feet. Itching, rashes, and dry, thick skin can be particularly bothersome on the feet and make walking or standing uncomfortable.
If you think you have psoriasis on your feet, its important to get the right diagnosis and work with your dermatologist to find the best treatment for your skin.
Diagnosis Of Eczema Vs Psoriasis
Eczema is typically diagnosed by observing the skin and asking questions about patient and family history. A patch test may be performed to confirm whether eczema is due to a specific allergen. Read more details about eczema diagnosis.
Psoriasis is usually diagnosed by a dermatologist by performing a visual exam and taking the patient and family history. In some cases, the doctor may do a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
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Should You Treat Yourself
You may think its just a rash and that you can put some antibiotic cream on it and call it all good. However, if you are having a reaction to an allergen or something in your environment, you may not get any relief until a dermatologist or allergist helps you identify the source.
If you have a rash that is painful, oozing, hasnt improved in a few days, or is getting worse, you should see a dermatologist to find out what it is and the best course of treatment. Eczema and psoriasis both may go through periods of dormancy and suddenly reappear. If you have a plan in place with your doctor, you will know how to treat your breakout without making it worse through guessing and self-treatment.
There are some things you can do at home that will help control these two skin conditions:
- Use moisturizers daily
What Is The Treatment For Palmoplantar Psoriasis
Improvement in general health can lead to an improvement in palmoplantar psoriasis.
- Weight loss, if overweight
- Investigation and management of associated health conditions
Mild psoriasis of the palms and soles may be treated with topical treatments:
- Emollients: thick, greasy barrier creams applied thinly and frequently to moisturise the dry, scaly skin and help prevent painful cracking.
- Keratolytic agents such as urea or salicylic acid to thin down the thick scaling skin. Several companies market effective heel balms containing these and other agents.
- Coal tar: to improve the scale and inflammation. Because of the mess, coal tar is often applied at night under cotton gloves or socks.
- Topical steroids: ultrapotent ointment applied initially daily for two to four weeks, if necessary under occlusion, to reduce inflammation, itch and scaling. Maintenance use should be confined to 2 days each week to avoid thinning the skin and causing psoriasis to become more extensive.
Calcipotriol ointment is not very successful for palmoplantar psoriasis. It may also cause an irritant contact dermatitis on the face if a treated area inadvertently touches it. Dithranol is too messy and irritating for routine use on hands and feet.
More severe palmoplantar psoriasis usually requires or systemic agents, most often:
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Is It Eczema Or Psoriasis
Ever wonder about the differences between eczema and psoriasis? Or have you tried to explain the two conditions to someone and found yourself getting confused? Youre not alone. Even the most skin-savvy of us can sometimes get these common disorders mixed up. So, with Psoriasis Awareness Month here in the month of September, weve outlined some key details to clarify things and hopefully help more people get the accurate diagnosis and treatment they need.
Treatment Of Eczema Vs Psoriasis
Both eczema and psoriasis are treated by modulating the immune system. Topical Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat both conditions. The effects of topical medications are mostly limited to the skin. In severe cases of eczema, it may be necessary to take systemic oral medications such as Methotrexate or Mycophenolate mofetil.Read more about eczema treatments.
Since psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause systemic symptoms and progressive joint damage, it is important to calm the immune system throughout the body to control inflammation and reduce autoimmune attacks on the skin and joints. Systemic treatments for psoriasis include immunomodulators such as Methotrexate and newer biologic drugs such as Enbrel , Humira , and Stelara , which are injected.
, or light therapy, may also be helpful in some cases of psoriasis or eczema.
Condition Guide
FAQs
Whats the difference between hives and eczema?Hives can be similar in appearance to eczema, with itchy red patches of skin on different parts of the body. However, hives are generally smoother in appearance and quickly disappear. Hives rarely bleed, and the onset can be sudden. Hives may occur once, may last for a short period over time or over months, or may be chronic. Hives are usually caused by an allergy.
Is there an eczema and psoriasis cream?There are several topical medications such as lotions, creams, and ointments that may be prescribed for either eczema or psoriasis.
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