Eczema vs Psoriasis

If you have been lately suffering from skin irritation and some kind of skin itching or skin related problems then make sure that to visit your doctor in order to diagnose your skin condition and seek advice on how to treat it. You will have to know from which particular skin condition you are suffering from and be sure on whether it is psoriasis or eczema. Most people often confuse eczema with psoriasis as both have similar skin conditions. However, both eczema and psoriasis are different from each other. A person may mistake one for the other if he does not know the basic point of difference between the two skin conditions. Therefore, it is important to know the difference between eczema and psoriasis.

Eczema is a group of skin conditions in which the skin appears inflamed, dry, scaly patchy and crusted. Extreme cases of eczema flare-ups may cause the skin to become red and oozy. Eczema is triggered by a reaction caused when the skin comes into contact with environmental irritants or allergens. Symptoms of the eczema can also turn worse if the person is suffering from acute stress, mental trauma and hormonal fluctuations.

However, Psoriasis is a different form of inflammatory skin condition in which the symptom appear as raised red patches, reddish skin often covered with a white silver layer. Not only do the symptoms differ slightly but one can also find differences between eczema and psoriases in terms of their causative factors, age distribution, their forms and treatment methods.

Types of Eczema:

• Atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Varicose eczema
• Discoid eczema
• Dyshydrotic eczema or vesicular eczema
• Eczema herpeticum
• Adult seborrhoeic eczema

Types of Psoriasis:

• Plaque Psoriasis
• Guttate Psoriasis
• Pustular Psoriasis
• Inverse Psoriasis
• Erythrodermic Psoriasis
• Nail Psoriasis
• Psoriasis of the Scalp
• Psoriatic Arthritis

Eczema is largely triggered as all allergic reaction to environmental irritants and allergens. In most cases, eczema is also found to develop because of a high exposure of a person to harmful chemicals and specific substances.

On the contrary, psoriasis is believed to occur due to a genetic link and it happens because of factors within the human body. Consumption of certain types of foods may cause eczema. Avoiding consumption of such food types and substances that cause eczema is an effective way of managing this group of skin condition.

Mostly young children and infants are affected with eczema, whereas psoriasis tends to affect largely adults. Although eczema is believed to be a childhood condition, it can recur throughout the life of the affected person, continuing well into his adulthood.

There are some points of dissimilarities between eczema and psoriasis in terms of the appearance of the affected skin due to which it is possible to differentiate between the two similar skin conditions. Eczema is characterized by dry and scaly skin accompanied with small blisters and raised red patches. It also appears with extreme irritation and skin itching. Alternatively, psoriasis is red, rough and raised skin characterized by flaky and scaly skin that can cause skin bleeding.

Eczema:

• Inflamed skin
• Skin redness
• Itchy skin
• Cracked skin
• Weeping
• Scales on the skin
• Blisters
• Red rashes on the arms, legs and on the affected skin
• Crusty rash on cheek and legs
• Crusty arm blisters
• Rash inside the elbow and behind the knees
• Extreme irritation may cause difficulty in sleeping
• Hyperpigmented eyelids
• Drk rings around the eyes
• Extra fold of skin under eye
• Small raised bumps also called as papules
• Urticaria - hives
• Lip inflammation (Cheilitis)

Psoriasis:

• Small red and scaly patches
• Red plaques (red scales)
• Skin rashes on knees, arm, leg, elbow, trunk, scalp, back and buttocks
• Silvery scales
• Pain
• Skin itching
• Restricted joint motion
• Emotional stress
• Arthritis

Eczema can be treated effectively by exposure to UV rays. Applying of moisturizing lotions or use of tanning beds can treat the disease effectively. Doctors also advice the use of emollient like aqueous cream or a moisturizing body cream that can help in maintaining natural skin oils to prevent red rashes and skin itching. There are a number of non-soap based skin cleansers available in the market that can be used for effectively treating eczema. Psoriasis can also be treated with the use of photo-therapy and medicated creams as well as ointments. Besides the use of bath solutions, a person suffering psoriasis may have to undergo systemic treatment or ultraviolet light treatment.