In This Article
It’s extremely easy to confuse eczema vs psoriasis.
They are both cause itchy, red, irritated skin, But the similarities mostly stop there.
Meet the Experts
What Is Psoriasis?
Stocksy.
Normally, skin cells are replaced every 10 to 30 days, she says.
In patients with psoriasis, new cells grow every three to four days.
These are very characteristic of psoriasis, she says.
They can grow anywhere, but most appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
While this might look extreme, she points out that psoriasis is not contagious or infectious.
What Is Eczema?
Whileeczemacan be equally as itchy and inflamed, it doesnt include the scaley patches that psoriasis does.
For some people, intense heat andhumiditycan also aggravate the skin."
What is Atopic Dermatitis?
There is more than one pop in of eczema, though.
“Atopic dermatitis is considered a chronic form of eczema which can run in families,” Gmyrek says.
It’s common in children but can occur at any age."
Typical Onset For Eczema
Eczema flares can start as early as one to six months after birth.
While the cause is still unknown, Gmyrek says a genetic predisposition is primarily to blame.
To help break it down, weve listed out the key differences, below.
It can also occur on theeyebrowsand the skin surrounding the nose.
“The patches or plaques are often well defined with sharp borders,” he adds.
However, suppose you have inverse psoriasis (a form exacerbated by friction and sweating).
Additionally, noticing little dents in your nails could also be a sign of psoriasis.
Beyond location, Dr. Camp points out that eczema is much less defined than psoriasis.
However, remember that only a doctor can officially deem it so.
But here’s roughly what you might expect.
Before you could treat eczema, you have to understand the underlying cause.
“If it is from a skin allergy, one must eliminate exposure to it,” Camp says.
“If it is from dry skin, one must modify how they treat their skin.”
It’s because of this that Gmyrek says education is key.
“I teach patients about their condition,” she says.
“I teach them that it is not curable but manageable.
Moisturizing the skin is a mainstay of treatment for eczema.
“They should be used sparingly and under the guidance of a physician,” she says.
“Sometimes, if the lesions of eczema get infected by bacteria, antibiotics are also used.”
Treating Psoriasis
Once again, only your dermatologist can properly diagnose and treat psoriasis.
But here’s what most individuals can expect.
“Therefore, treatment varies from patient to patient,” she explains.
“Psoriasis treatments include steroid creams, light therapy, and immune system modulating medications such as biologics.
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