What Causes Eczema And Psoriasis

Severe And Pervasive Eczema

Eczema can also become very serious and cover much of the skins surface. The amount of skin affected by eczema will depend on:

• the sensitivity of the persons skin
• the skins exposure to irritants
• the type and effectiveness of treatments

Severe cracking, oozing, and bleeding in cases of severe eczema can become dangerous. Widespread eczema also makes infection more likely because of the increased chance of broken skin.

Whats The Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis

Eczema and psoriasis are different chronic conditions, though they both cause red, itchy skin rashes. But for doctors, these rashes have slight differences that the trained eye can usually detect.

Atopic dermatitis tends to have less well-defined borders, doesn’t have as much thick scale as psoriasis and tends to be just a little bit more crusty, Dr. Wang explains. Overall, atopic dermatitis tends to be itchier. Both are itchy conditions, but atopic dermatitis is probably more itchy.

Neither condition is contagious, and eczema and psoriasis cant be prevented.

Severe And Pervasive Psoriasis

Like most skin conditions, psoriasis can become widespread and very irritating. For instance, plaque psoriasis may cover almost the entire surface of the body.

In extreme cases, inflammation can become so severe that it appears and feels like burns.

Extensive, highly painful, burn-like psoriasis can be life-threatening. This requires immediate attention from a health professional.

Other widespread psoriasis may simply require standard treatment to partially heal or resolve.

Read Also: Plaque Psoriasis And Joint Pain

Whats The Difference Between Dermatitis And Psoriasis

Psoriasis and dermatitis can appear similar. Both cause patches of red skin. However, in psoriasis, the scales are thick and the edges of those scales are well-defined.

Discuss with your healthcare provider your questions about which type of skin condition you have. You can have more than one skin condition at a time. Treatments for one may not work for the other.

What’s The Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis

• Children get eczema. They can also get psoriasis.

• While more children develop eczema than psoriasis, almost 1% of children have psoriasis.

• Its not always easy to tell whether a child has eczema or psoriasis. A study conducted in Australia found that most children who had psoriasis were initially diagnosed by their primary care doctor as having another disease, often eczema.

• To a dermatologists trained eye, psoriasis and eczema tend to look quite different.

You May Like: Mejor Medicina Para La Psoriasis

Could It Be Eczema

Eczema is a skin rash from a reaction or allergy. The condition is mainly present in young children. However, older persons can develop the condition. With eczema, the reaction is the bodys immune system attacking the skin. This causes inflammation in areas like the wrists, elbows, knees, and face. More severe cases show up on the hands and feet. Environmental occurrences like pollen, metals, and even stress cause these flareups.

Are Psoriasis And Eczema Related

Psoriasis and eczema are both responsible for causing itchy skin in many people. Over 30 million Americans have eczema, and it is estimated that 7 million Americans have psoriasis.

Dermatologists at Park Avenue Dermatology treat patients with eczema and those with psoriasis. It is important to have a diagnosis from a healthcare specialist, so if you have a skin disorder, contact your dermatologist for an appointment.

Don’t Miss: Small Psoriasis Spots On Legs

Treatments For Psoriasis Include:

• Corticosteroids
• Anthralin, coal tar, salicylic acid, Vitamin D cream and topical retinoids
• Light therapy/phototherapy

• Antihistamine creams or tablets, such as Diphenhydramine
• Antibiotic creams
• Avoiding extremely hot temperatures â particularly hot baths or showers
• Moisturising the skin

Diet can also potentially play a part in both conditions, seeing as theyâre both inflammatory skin conditions. Eating certain anti-inflammatory food, such as these, can potentially help calm the skin:

• Fruit and vegetables – especially berries, cherries and leafy greens
• Oily fish – salmon, sardines, and other fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids
• Antioxidant-rich herbs and spices â such as thyme, sage, cumin and ginger
• Healthy sources of fat â such as olive oil, seeds, and nuts

We hope that by reading this psoriasis vs eczema article, youâre now a bit clearer on the difference between eczema and psoriasis? While there are parallels between the two, there are also lots of differentiators that are possible to identify the first step is knowing that they exist.

23 July 2020

What Symptoms Should You Look Out For

Unfortunately, its difficult for the average person to tell the difference between eczema and psoriasis. Its best to see a specialist if you spot a rash of any kind that doesnt clear up or returns.

Dr. Ziegner is specially trained to look at various aspects of rashes to distinguish between psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions. Theres no substitute for expert evaluation. In addition to a visual examination, Dr. Ziegner will go over your medical history and discuss your symptoms.

Read Also: Laser Treatment For Psoriasis Cost

How Is Psoriasis Treated

Corticosteroids are often used to treat psoriasis. If the scalp is affected, there are treatment shampoos. Excessive skin cells can be removed with salicylic acid, lactic acid, or urea. Your dermatologist will recommend the best treatment for your psoriasis.

Psoriasis and Eczema are frequently confused skin conditions, but they are not related to each other. If you have any skin rash, schedule a consultation at Park Avenue Dermatology to get the proper treatment regimen for you.

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.

Recommended Reading: Castor Oil For Psoriasis On Scalp

Differences Between Eczema And Psoriasis

It can be difficult to tell the difference between psoriasis and eczema, but it is important to be able to distinguish between them, especially for treatment. Both conditions are rather common, especially in the United States. Eczema affectsapproximately 15 million Americans, whileapproximately 7.5 million Americanshave psoriasis. Although eczema affects a larger group of people, it is still important to learn exactly which condition you may have. To understand each condition completely, it is important to recognize the various distinguishing factors they have.

Eczema In Inconvenient Places

Eczema can occur in many inconvenient places especially for infants. Diapers and baby creams may irritate sensitive skin, causing extreme diaper rashes. In some cases, the eczema covers the entire area that comes into contact with a diaper.

Hypersensitivity to the material of a diaper or the creams used in washing the area can aggravate skin. Switching to soft cotton diapers or using a different cleanser may help ease eczema in the genital area for infants.

Adults with eczema in sensitive areas may need to change laundry detergents, cleansers, and fabrics.

Read Also: Is Blue Star Ointment Good For Psoriasis

You May Like: What Is Guttate Psoriasis Pictures

Getting The Right Diagnosis

As with any medical condition, seeking a proper diagnosis is critical to developing the right treatment plan. “The first and the most important part of caring for your skin condition is to get the right diagnosis,” says Dr. Shi. “Various skin rashes can often look similar and have very different treatment approaches. For example, some over-the-counter psoriasis treatments work by reducing skin thickness and scaling, and if used incorrectly on eczema skin, can actually cause an eczema flare.”

Dr. Shi says, “More often than not, people with these conditions may require a prescription strength medication. Therefore, it’s better to see a dermatologist to confirm the correct diagnosis and get an individualized treatment plan.” As each of the three conditions will fluctuate in severity over time, a treatment plan may require different approaches.

Seeking The Right Treatment

Unfortunately, there are currently no cures for these skin conditions, and many people have to manage their symptoms over a lifetime. Depending on several factors, including your age and severity of your condition, your doctor will develop a treatment plan that includes a combination of medicine, avoiding triggers, and having a good skin care regimen and healthy lifestyle. Its important to get the right diagnosis with a doctor who specializes in these conditions, such as a dermatologist, and to develop a treatment plan thats tailored to your specific needs.

Read Also: How To Stop Itching Scalp Psoriasis

Psoriasis And Eczema In The Genitalia

Psoriasis and eczema are common skin conditions that affect different parts of the body. In recent years, people became more familiar with these diseases and how they present on the skin however, when they appear in the genital area, it can be very concerning for patients.

For instance, genital psoriasis can affect the penis or vulva, your upper thighs, and the folds of the skin between your thigh and groin. Eczema may have a similar pattern. Most people associate rashes around the genital area with sexually transmitted diseases , which can create panic and restlessness.

In this article, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of psoriasis and eczema in the genitalia and how to treat both conditions.

How Can Parents Help

For some children, psoriasis is just a minor inconvenience. For others, it is a difficult medical condition.

To manage symptoms and make outbreaks less likely, your child should:

• Wash hands well and often and stay away from people who are sick to prevent infections.
• Manage stress through exercise, yoga, or meditation.
• Not smoke or drink alcohol.
• Keep a healthy weight. People who are overweight tend to have more severe psoriasis symptoms.

Kids and teens with psoriasis may feel uncomfortable with the way their skin looks. Help your child understand that psoriasis is common and treatments can help.

Whether your child’s psoriasis is mild or severe, learn about the condition together. Offer to help find a therapist or join a support group if that might help. Talk to your doctor or check websites like:

Read Also: Cuã¡l Es La Mejor Crema Para La Psoriasis

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed

Doctors usually diagnose psoriasis by examining the skin, scalp, and nails. They’ll also ask whether someone else in the family has psoriasis and if the child recently had an illness or started taking a new medicine.

Rarely, doctors might take a skin sample to check more closely. A biopsy can tell the doctor whether it’s psoriasis or another condition with similar symptoms.

For Genital Eczema The Treatments That May Help With This Condition Include:

Calcineurin inhibitors these drugs modulate your immune system to dampen inflammation. Common prescriptions include tacrolimus and pimecrolimus .

Inflammation control drugs that control inflammation and immune response, such as prednisone, are an excellent way to treat inflammation.

Antibiotics infections are a common complication of genital psoriasis and eczema. The prescription of antibiotics in this situation is necessary to prevent severe forms.

Injectable treatments if your skin condition does not respond to treatment, your doctor may recommend dupilumab . This drug gets injected to treat severe cases of eczema.

light therapy may be an effective method to treat dermatological conditions that affect the genitalia. However, this treatment is reserved for severe cases.

Recommended Reading: Foods To Avoid With Psoriasis Arthritis

You May Like: What Is Used To Treat Psoriasis

Psoriasis Vs Eczema Treatment

Knowing the difference between psoriasis and eczema is important so that you can receive the proper treatment. At times, similar treatment may be used, but it depends on each individual case.

Topical ointments are often used on both eczema and psoriasis. Corticosteroid creams are prescribed for both skin diseases, but there are other types of topical medications that can also be administered for psoriasis, such as creams that contain vitamin D. It is important to differentiate between eczema and psoriasis medications because if you use the wrong one, it could lead to serious side effects.

Oral treatments can be used for both psoriasis and eczema, but they can have side effects and must be closely monitored by a doctor. The oral treatments for psoriasis are very different from those made available for eczema.

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.

You May Like: New Drug For Psoriasis 2017

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.

What Is Eczema What Does It Look And Feel Like

Eczema is a condition that causes your skin to become dry, red, itchy and bumpy. Its one of many types of dermatitis. Eczema damages the skin barrier function . This loss of barrier function makes your skin more sensitive and more prone to infection and dryness.

Eczema doesnt harm your body. It doesnt mean that your skin is dirty or infected, and its not contagious. There are treatments that can help manage your symptoms.

In the word dermatitis, derm means skin and itis means inflammation. The word as a whole means inflammation of the skin. Eczema originates from the Greek word ekzein which means to boil over or break out.

Recommended Reading: What Helps Psoriasis On Face

How Can You Tell Whether You Have Eczema Or Psoriasis

The two diseases are very different, but they have some similarities that can make it difficult to tell them apart. This is particularly true for certain areas of the body, like the hands, or when the disease covers the entire body.

Neither one is contagious, which is another point they have in common.

There is usually a clear visual distinction, however. For psoriasis:

• the patches have a much brighter red tone
• the lesions have much clearer more well-defined edges
• the patches are thicker and covered in thick, white scales.

The following additional signs may indicate psoriasis:

• Psoriasis is very rare in infants, but when it does affect this age group, it appears in the diaper area as bright red, well-defined patches with no scaling.
• Psoriasis can appear in children. Often, the outbreak is preceded by an infection, and the patches are spread out over the body: guttate psoriasis.
• In adults, psoriasis affects different areas of the body, particularly:
• the front of the knees
• the elbows
• the buttocks

Learning The Differences Between Eczema And Psoriasis

• Psoriasis causes well-defined, thick, red, scaly patches, commonly in areas like the elbows and knees. It is common to see psoriasis on the face, buttocks, and scalp of a child. Youll also commonly see thick patches of skin with overlying redness.

• Eczema tends to appear in the crooks of the knees and the elbows.

• Children who have psoriasis tend to have mild itching. In eczema, the itching can be intense.

• There are many ways for a dermatologist to tell the difference between eczema and psoriasis, including what one sees on the skin, the amount of itch, and where the disease appears on the skin.

Recommended Reading: Get Rid Of Psoriasis For Good

What Is It Like Living With Eczema

Many people live with eczema . As many as 15 million Americans may have this skin condition. Living with it can be challenging.

There may be times when your eczema disappears. This is known as a remission period. Other times you may have a flare-up, which is when it gets worse. The goal of treatment is to prevent such flare-ups, preventing your symptoms from getting worse. Be sure to avoid triggers, moisturize, take your medicine and do anything else your healthcare provider recommends.

How Is Each Treated

Eczema treatment depends on how severe it is. For mild to moderate cases, youâll use a topical corticosteroid to control inflammation, and youâll use an emollient on your skin. This type of moisturizer has an oil or cream base, not a water base, like lotion, which could dry your skin out more.

If you have moderate to severe eczema, you may need to try a medicine that affects your immune system like , methotrexate, azathioprine, or cyclosporine. If nothing else works, your doctor may prescribe a biologic drug called dupilumab . You might also try light therapy using ultraviolet light.

Psoriasis treatment is either systemic, which means it affects your entire body, or topical, which goes on your skin. If your disease is limited, or mild, you may be able to control it with topical corticosteroids and emollients.

Light therapy paired with methotrexate, cyclosporine, acretin, or a biologic is also an option for more severe cases. Or you could use just a biologic drug, which includes:

Don’t Miss: How To Loosen Scalp Psoriasis