Psoriasis Vs Eczema: Self
Liberal use of a thick, nonirritating moisturizer can ease dryness and help restore the skin barrier in both conditions, says Khetarpal.
Avoiding products with dyes and fragrances is important in eczema.
Since sunburn can worsen both psoriasis and eczema, its important to wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when spending time outdoors.
While there isnt evidence that a specific diet that eliminates items like dairy or sugar can help either condition, you can benefit from drinking alcohol only in moderation, eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising .
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What Causes Psoriasis Vs Eczema
These two skin problems have different causes and can appear in different stages of your life. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects about 7.5 million Americans, according to the AAD. It happens when the skin cells go through their life cycle more quickly than normal. Typically, it takes about a month for skin cells to regenerate, but in people with psoriasis, this process happens every three to four days, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Psoriasis typically strikes when someone is between the ages of 15 and 35, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, but it can affect anyone at any age. What we do know is that psoriasis is immune-mediated, meaning there is some imbalance in the immune system, which leads to inflamed skin, dermatologist and National Psoriasis Foundation medical board member Jashin Wu, M.D., tells SELF. It tends to run in families, but there may not be straightforward patterns of inheritance. One well-known trigger is strep throat infections, but not all new cases of psoriasis result from strep throat.
Eczema is much more common than psoriasis. According to the most recent estimate available, more than 30 million Americans have some form of eczema.
Still Unsure Time For Some Help
Most persons will have difficulty discerning the condition. The best bet is to visit a dermatologist. Dermatologists can perform different tests to diagnose the condition clearly. There are no cures for either eczema and psoriasis. Rest assured, the doctor will provide the right medication and advice for the right disease.
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Irritant Or Allergic Contact Dermatitis
These are two other common kinds of eczema. They cause the same type of itchy, red, inflamed rash as atopic dermatitis. But the cause is an irritant or an allergen that comes in contact with your skin, often your hands or legs.
Poison ivy is the best-known allergen that can cause a reaction. But there are thousands of triggers. They include chemicals, fragrances, and metals. These forms of dermatitis come from the world around you, so if you can avoid your triggers, you can avoid the rash.
In severe cases, skin will blister, ooze, and scab over. But the symptoms go away with time. If you notice any scaling, it will be different from the thick silvery scales of psoriasis.
How Is Seborrheic Dermatitis Diagnosed
Seborrheic dermatitis is an easy condition to diagnosis because of its appearance on the affected skin and where it appears on your body. No blood, urine or allergy tests are needed. Your dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy to rule out other diseases if your condition does not respond to treatment.
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Causes Of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Similar to dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis is a harsh reaction to fungi that naturally lives on all humans. This is common in infants and referred to as a cradle cap. Whereas in adults, stress, hormonal changes, and dry weather can cause flare-ups. Diseases like Parkinsons, psoriasis and HIV can cause seborrheic dermatitis.
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Which Itch Is Your Itch
The best way to tell for sure if you have eczema or psoriasis is to get a diagnosis from our experts. Their years of training and clinical experience, plus the diagnostic tools we have on-site at our offices, means that you get an accurate diagnosis, so you can proceed with the most effective treatments available.
To find out whether you have psoriasis, eczema, or need to treat a different kind of itch, contact us today by calling your nearest office or using the online form.
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Face Ears Chest And Back
- Cleanse the affected skin thoroughly once or twice each day using a non-soap cleanser.
- Apply ketoconazole or ciclopirox cream once daily for 2 to 4 weeks, repeated as necessary.
- Hydrocortisone cream can also be used, applied up to twice daily for 1 or 2 weeks. Occasionally a more potent topical steroid may be prescribed.
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Causes Of Psoriasis Vs Eczema
Eczema and psoriasis are caused by overactivation of different inflammatory pathways within the immune system. The cause of psoriasis, while not completely understood, is an autoimmune reaction wherein the immune system responds to a trigger and recruits many inflammatory cells into the skin.
The cause of eczema is not clear, but it is thought to be an extreme sensitivity â sometimes caused by an allergy â to certain triggering substances. It may also be due to a defect in the proteins that form the barrier of the skin. Common triggers for eczema flare-ups include animals, fabrics, soaps, metals, and certain medications. In other words, psoriasis is caused when your immune system attacks itself, and eczema is caused when your immune system overreacts to an outside substance.
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What Is Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis associated with extreme inflammation, itching and pain that affects most of the body. Other symptoms include large sheets of shedding skin , an increase in heart rate, swelling due to fluid retention and significant changes in your body temperature. Its important to seek immediate medical attention if youre experiencing a flare-up of erythrodermic psoriasis as it can lead to pneumonia or heart failure if left untreated.6
Are Eczema And Dermatitis The Same Thing
While the terms eczema and dermatitis may be used interchangeably most of the time, there are specific skin conditions that are more often referred to one than the other.
For instance, doctors may refer to eczema and atopic dermatitis as the same thing, but wouldnt with eczema and contact dermatitis.
The interesting thing is that rather than being the same thing, eczema is caused by atopic dermatitis.
It could be argued that although it is considered a condition, that eczema is a group of related skin diseases that can cause skin irritation and inflammation.
In addition to atopic dermatitis and resulting eczema, there are several other types of both dermatitis and eczema.
To help you understand the differences, we are going to look at them closely, one by one.
If you need help with dermatitis or eczema treatment, our friendly, experienced dermatologists at Linia Skin Clinic can help. BOOK A CONSULTATION today.
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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
Psoriasis V Eczema Triggers
The symptoms of both psoriasis and eczema can flare up sometimes in response to specific triggers. Eczema can be triggered by:
- Toiletries, laundry detergents or other things that come in contact with and irritate your skin
- Allergens such as certain foods, pet hair, pollen or other allergens.
- Extremes of temperature or humidity
- Stress
- Having an infection
Psoriasis can also be triggered by stress or an infection. It can also get worse if your skin is injured, even if it is just by sunburn or a small scratch. Its important to work with your dermatologist at the Harley Street skin clinic to identify what your triggers are so that you can avoid them, whether you have psoriasis or eczema.
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Scalp Eczema: Symptoms Causes And Treatments
An itchy, dry scalp can be caused by a number of skin conditions, such as psoriasis, head lice, and fungal infections. One common cause is atopic dermatitis also known as eczema.
Scalp eczema is a form of eczema that affects up to 5 percent of the general population. Eczema of the scalp can show up in babies as young as 3 weeks old, when it may be referred to as cradle cap. Cradle cap can affect up to 70 percent of young infants. Although many infants and children outgrow scalp eczema, it can reappear during puberty and linger into adulthood.
This article will discuss the different types of eczema, the symptoms of scalp eczema, potential causes, and effective treatments that can help you get your scalp eczema under control.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Vs Psoriasis: Treatment
Since no definite causes have been found for either of the conditions yet, the treatment includes the alleviation of the symptoms and the possible avoidance of triggers.
- Topical treatments corticosteroids, vitamin D creams, anthralin, topical retinoids.
- treatment with natural and artificial ultraviolet light.
- Oral or injectable meds usually required for severe or persisting psoriasis. This treatment may have unpleasant side effects. Thats why its only used occasionally.
- Avoiding triggers patients keep a log of what they eat, drink, and do in order to identify the triggers to avoid them in the future.
- Different shampoos ketoconazole, salicylic acid, ciclopirox olamine
- Avoiding trigger mostly involves watching the diet.
As we can see, some of the treatment for both conditions are similar. However, the majority of approaches is different.
The main difference between seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis is that some seborrheic dermatitis may possibly be caused by fungus. Thats why for some patients, systematic use of ketoconazole may prevent dermatitis flare-ups.
However, even if the frequent use of ketoconazole may keep the symptoms at bay, it doesnt mean you have seborrheic dermatitis. You may still have psoriasis, which isnt appearing as often due to some other reasons.
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Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria
Observational studies were included. Studies were required to provide incidence, prevalence or risk data on the coexistence of psoriasis and eczema. Cohort studies were included to provide data on coexistence in the same time period, consecutive onset and incidence estimates.
There were no restrictions on the age, gender, ethnicity, setting or geographical location of participants. Studies of all languages for which a translator was available were included in the review. The review investigated two separate populations: the diagnosis of eczema in a psoriasis population the diagnosis of psoriasis in an eczema population . The diseases of interest, eczema and psoriasis, were defined and recorded as a diagnosis made by a health professional , self-reported or the method of diagnosis was unspecified. The category of diagnosis made by a health professional was further divided into whether it was made by a dermatologist or nondermatologist, and if diagnostic criteria were used. The definition of psoriasis included all subtypes of psoriasis. The term atopic eczema has been used interchangeably with eczema/dermatitis and studies were excluded if they specifically focused on nonatopic eczema . Conference abstracts were included if they contained sufficient information on the primary objective.
Psoriasis Vs Eczema On The Face
Psoriasis is typically found on elbows and knees, but a person with scalp psoriasis may find patches extending to the forehead, ears, and other areas close to the face. Eczema may also be found on the face and appears as scaly, dry patches without the silver scale. In both cases, there can be extreme itching and discomfort.
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What Triggers Atopic Dermatitis And Eczema
Atopic dermatitis can be triggered by skin care products like soaps, cleansers, detergents, and lotions with harsh chemicals extreme hot or cold temperatures irritating fabrics like wool fragrances and stress. Other forms of eczema can be triggered by irritating chemicals in substances such as adhesives, glues, bleaches, cleaning products, paints, and acids, or by allergies to ingredients in skin care products, food, metals, or urushiol, the oil found in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Other forms of eczema may be triggered by a fungal infection or as a side effect of taking certain medications.
What Is Already Known About This Topic
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Atopic eczema and psoriasis are two of the most common skin diseases and are managed in primary, secondary and tertiary care.
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Observational studies have supported both coexistence and mutual exclusivity of atopic eczema and psoriasis.
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Studies also conflict on the coexistence of other Th1 and Th2 diseases.
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Types Of Eczema That Affect The Scalp
Seborrhoeic eczema is one of the most common types of eczema seen on the scalp and hairline. It can affect babies , children and adults. The skin appears red and scaly and there is often dandruff as well, which can vary in severity. There may also be a rash on other parts of the face, such as around the eyebrows, eyelids and sides of the nose. Seborrhoeic eczema can become infected. See the National Eczema Society factsheets on Adult seborrhoeic dermatitis and Infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis and cradle cap for more details.
Atopic eczema is another common type of eczema that can affect the scalp at all ages. The skin is red, dry and itchy and can easily become infected, especially if scratched and when there is broken skin.
Allergic contact dermatitis can develop as a result of your body reacting to a particular substance to which you are allergic. Everyday items that can cause allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp include the following:
- Hair shampoos, conditioners, gels, sprays and other hair products
- Hair dyes, perm solutions
See the National Eczema Society booklet on Contact dermatitis for more details.
Irritant contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that occurs when the skins surface is irritated by a substance that causes the skin to become dry, red and itchy. For example, shampoos, mousses, hair gels, hair spray, perm solution and fragrance can all cause irritant contact dermatitis. See the National Eczema Society booklet on Contact dermatitis for more details.
What Is Scalp Eczema
Irritation on your scalp may be a sign of eczema. Eczema, also called dermatitis, is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become itchy, inflamed, or have a rash-like appearance.
This condition affects your skin, and there are several types that may affect your scalp. Symptoms vary based on the type you have. Some will disappear with treatment, while others are chronic and require long-term observation and management.
Speak with a doctor to confirm the cause of your eczema as well as to rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms.
Keep reading to learn more about what may be causing your eczema and how to find relief.
There are different types of dermatitis that may appear on your scalp. These are seborrheic, atopic, and contact.
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Eczema Symptoms On The Other Hand Are Similar But Different
Eczema is really the collective name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy, and inflamed. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis, which is why when most people say eczema, they usually mean atopic dermatitis, Todd Minars, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at University of Miami School of Medicine, tells SELF.
The American Academy of Dermatology calls atopic dermatitis the itch that rashes to emphasize how uncomfortable this conditions characteristic dry, red, scaly patches can be.
Symptoms of atopic dermatitis can include:
- Dry, itchy patches of skin
- Small red-to-brownish-gray raised bumps
- Cracked or scaly skin
Contact dermatitis is another kind of eczema, which can be caused by coming into contact with an allergen or an irritating substance, such as solvents, poison ivy, and detergents, the AAD says. The reaction typically affects the part of the body that touched the irritant, according to the Mayo Clinic. Its symptoms are redness or rash, burning or swelling, and blisters that may weep or crust over.
Dyshidrotic eczema is yet another form of this condition. It appears as small, itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet, and may be triggered by stress, allergies, or exposure to metals like nickel and cobalt, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include pain, itching, redness, flaking, and scaly, cracked skin.
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Neutrogena T/sal Therapeutic Shampoo Scalp Build
TARGETED TREATMENT
For a salicylic acid-based shampoo, go for the Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo Scalp Build-Up Control. It brings the same oil-fighting power you expect from Neutrogenas skincare products to your scalp and promises to minimize the symptoms of dandruff and scalp psoriasis by clearing away excess oil and breaking down skin build-up.
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