Overview
Often times one might feel redness, itching, and dryness around the skin. For this, you might have tried every cream, lotion, or other topical gel available in the market. However, for some, these options don’t seem to subside or calm the itchiness. There’s another condition that has similar visual symptoms as Eczema but these creams won’t necessarily work on them, and that is because it may just be Psoriasis vs Eczema: Both these conditions are like twins — they have a similar look, but deep down, they are fundamentally different. The major difference between eczema and psoriasis is the underlying cause.
Keeping the skin clean and moisturized, avoiding triggers, and taking following a proper treatment regime can help ease symptoms of either or both the conditions. There might be various Clinical research organizations near you dedicated to conducting clinical trials to help find a potential treatment for these skin conditions.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that usually presents itself with a rash, itchiness, and scaly patches, most commonly around the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It’s a long-term chronic condition with no cure found yet. It can be distressing, interfere with sleep, and make it difficult to keep a focus.
What is Eczema?
Also known as Atopic dermatitis — “Atopic” refers to an allergy. People with eczema often have itchy, red, and hyperpigmented skin. It’s more common in children but can be acquired at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long-lasting and tends to flare intermittently. No cure has been rest for atopic dermatitis either.
This blog is all about two conditions i.e., Psoriasis vs Eczema. How these two differ in appearance, causes, and treatment regimes!
What are its Causes?
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is cause by an overactive immune system that fastens skin cell growth. It’s considerer an autoimmune disease, however, physicians and researchers aren’t able to confirm what actually causes the immune system to become dysfunctional. In people suffering from psoriasis. The skin cells will shed at a faster rate than an average person, and those dead skin cells will multiplicate and accumulate on the skin surface and cause psoriasis plaques.
Eczema
Eczema is cause when certain irritants trigger inflammation in the body. Once the body is expose either internally or externally to such triggers, the immune system overreacts and skin conditions become painful, dry, itchy, or red. Irritants may include things like cold weather, food allergies, fragrances, and stress. some researchers believe that eczema may be cause by a gene mutation of the gene that makes filaggrin. It is a protein that’s responsible for maintaining a protective barrier on the outer surface of the skin, and if it isn’t formed properly, the skin can let in the bacteria and viruses.
Psoriasis
Scab affects more than 8 million Americans, and the World Psoriasis Association estimates that 125 million people globally are suffering from this condition. scab is seen more commonly in adults than in children. The average age of onset is between 20-30 years or between 50 to 60 years of age.
Eczema
Eczema is believe to affect about 20% of children and 3% of adults in the United States. Overall, more than 30 million people in the US have faced some form of eczema over the course of their lives. It’s more common among children, but adults can develop it even if they never had it as a child.
What Are Its Symptoms?
Psoriasis
- Rashes vary in color, from shades of purple with grayscale on brown or Black skin and pink to red with the silver scale on white skin
- Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children)
- Dry and cracked skin that may bleed
- Itching with burning and soreness
Psoriasis vs eczema causes a patchy rash that varies widely in outlook from person to person, ranging from spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions over much of the body. It is most commonly seen on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear elsewhere on the body. The skin can crack or bleed, and in severe cases, it can cause the joints to become swollen and stiff, there are burning sensations and thickened or ridged nails.
Eczema
The symptoms vary widely from person to person and include:
- Dryness
- Severe Itching, especially at night
- Red patches, on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp
- Small elevated bumps, which may discharge fluid when scratched
- Thickened, cracked, and scaly skin
Oftentimes, people suffering from eczema can’t tolerate it but scratch their itchy skin, which leads to more inflammation and dry skin, causing more itching. This is called an “itch-scratch cycle.”
What are the Risk Factors: Psoriasis vs Eczema?
Psoriasis
- Family history plays an important role in developing psoriasis. One parent suffering from psoriasis increases your risk of getting the disease. And if both parents are suffering from psoriasis, increases your risk even more.
- Smoking not only increases the risk of developing psoriasis but also increases the severity of the disease.
Eczema
The primary risk factor for developing eczema is a personal or family history but allergies, hay fever, asthma, being immunocompromised, and other skin infections also play a key role in developing this condition.
How Do We Diagnosis?
Psoriasis
It is easy to diagnose scab when someone is having an outbreak. A doctor or dermatologist will examine the skin to determine whether the rash looks like psoriasis or not. Rarely, a skin biopsy may be need. But psoriasis is most often diagnose only by the appearance of scaly, cracked, silver-colored skin. There are five types of psoriasis, i.e., guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis.
Eczema
Eczema is usually self-diagnosable. The appearance of red and itchy skin can help dermatologists to determine the exact type of eczema you have and figure out what may be triggering it. There are seven types of eczema one can suffer from, i.e., atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, stasis dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and nummular eczema. A dermatologist will recommend treatment options and specific medicines based on the exact type of eczema someone has.
What are the Treatment Options?
Psoriasis
Even though scab is incurable, the symptoms can be manage with proper treatment. Treatment involves a combination of medications, natural remedies, light therapy, and lifestyle changes. Topical medicines are one of the most common regimes to treat psoriasis flare-ups. Retinoids like Tazorac, corticosteroid creams like Sernivo and Tridem, vitamin D analogs, and calcineurin inhibitors can be apply to affect areas to help slow skin growth and reduce inflammation. Natural remedies like aloe extract cream when applied topically, may help with psoriasis.
Light therapy is also helpful for some people suffering from psoriasis, and photodynamic therapy is done by most dermatologists these days. For those with severe psoriasis, oral medications are believe to be helpful. Biologics can help treat an overactive immune system quicker than normal skin cell growth. As can the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporine and methotrexate.
Eczema
There’s currently no cure for eczema, but its flareups can be properly managed. Eczema treatment plans will often include medications, light therapy, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes. Topical medications are the most common treatment option for eczema and include hydrocortisone creams and NSAID creams. They work by decreasing inflammation and by repressing an overactive immune system.
For severe or uncontrollable cases of eczema, it becomes essential to take oral medications like antihistamines or immunosuppressive drugs. Such drugs help stop severe itching and tranquilize an overactive immune system. Phototherapy can also help treat eczema, and many people can decrease an eczema flare-up with natural remedies at home like lukewarm baths or coconut oil.
Bottom-line
To summarize our blog Psoriasis vs eczema, these two seem to be different skin conditions that have similar visual appearance and symptoms. Some of the medicines that are use to treat psoriasis may also be able to treat eczema and vice versa. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s a one-size-fits-all treatment plan for both conditions. Your dermatologist can help you find a treatment plan that will work best for you based on your individual symptoms and medical history. Topical medications, avoiding triggers, and keeping the skin clean and moisturized can help ease symptoms of either or both of these skin problems. There are numerous Paid psoriasis clinical trials in michigan that might have the option to help you and countless others experiencing this condition. Keeping up with your treatment plan, living a healthy lifestyle, and staying away from triggers can help manage this condition.
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