Does The Sun Play A Factor
In short, yes, the sun can worsen eczema and psoriasis. But it may also help both conditions.
Sunlight is a source of ultraviolet radiation. Too much exposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer. But some sunlight can be beneficial for lowering skin inflammation. That is why light therapy is a treatment for both eczema and psoriasis. Light treatment is done in a healthcare providers office and is managed to ensure your skin doesnt burn. Small hand-held units are also available for at-home use.
Getting some sun outdoors can be helpful, as well. But it is important that you wear sunscreen and dont stay in direct sunlight for more than 15 minutes. Keep in mind, heat and sunlight can cause flare-ups for some people, so this approach isnt helpful for everyone.
When Eczema Or Psoriasis Is Confusing
From the descriptions above, its pretty easy to see how the two conditions can be confusing. Both are genetic conditions with dry, itchy red patches on the body that are usually worse in drier environments. However, its even more difficult to tell the two apart when both are mild.
Really mild psoriasis and eczema can look and behave a lot alike. Really classic forms of psoriasis are really easy to distinguish from eczema for a dermatologist. But very mild psoriasis can look a whole heck of a lot alike, even clinically, on the skin.
In fact, mild forms of eczema and psoriasis can look so much alike that its not uncommon to not be able to completely distinguish the two.
The hardest is when eczema or psoriasis is on the hands, says Dr. Reimer. In this instance, it can be particularly stubborn and hard to tell the difference.
Sometimes Ill see when dermatologists disagree and someone has a diagnosis of eczema, but they come in to see me, and I think its psoriasis, and vice versa.
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OVID MEDLINE and OVID Embase were searched from inception on 1st February 2020. A search strategy was built with an information specialist around the key terms âatopic eczemaâ, âpsoriasisâ and âco-existenceâ using medical subject headings and free text words . Reference lists of included studies were hand-searched. Studies with a primary objective matching the review question were also included in prospective citation searching using Google Scholar. Authors of included studies were emailed to help identify any published or unpublished data on the review question.
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Differences Between Eczema And Psoriasis
Visually, it can be difficult to tell atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis apart.
You have to look at all the clinical aspects of a rash to distinguish between eczema and psoriasis, including the history and the patients other medical problems, Dr. Fernandez notes. We can often visually distinguish psoriasis lesions from eczema lesions, but there are definitely times when we cannot tell the difference. In those cases, we perform biopsies.
He explains some of the differences between the two diseases.
Causes Of Eczema And Psoriasis
Doctors arent entirely sure what causes eczema and psoriasis. However, they have linked them to conditions and circumstances that can influence an outbreak.
Causes of eczema
Eczema is believed to be triggered by allergic reactions to organisms or substances you encounter. The condition might also be passed down through inherited genes. Studies have shown that children whose parents have allergies and asthma are more at risk of developing eczema.
Some other eczema triggers are believed to be:
- Cold or dry air
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Wait And See After Second Moderna Dose
On Friday, May 7th, I received my second Moderna vaccine dose. The first forty-eight hours after the injection is a story for another blog post. The unpleasantness of it has not flared my skin so far, though. In fact, my skin is clearer now than other time in the past six months.
I did get my biologic for psoriasis two weeks ago, which may mitigate a psoriasis flare. Im eating better overalllessening the chance the eczema will flare up too. Im grateful nothing noticeable has happened on my skin. And, yes, Im checking quite often now that the side effects of the second dose have mostly worn off.
Whether or not Ill see similar skin breakouts that I had with the first vaccine dose remains to be seen.
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
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How To Tell Eczema And Psoriasis Apart
Both skin conditions have similar symptoms, but there are key ways to tell them apart, such as their feeling, appearance, location, triggers, conditions theyre linked to, and treatment.
Feeling: Eczemas main differentiator is an intense itch, sometimes causing you to scratch so hard your skin starts to bleed. Other symptoms include:
- Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched
- Thickened, cracked, scaly skin
- Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching
Psoriasis can also be itchy, but the itchiness is not nearly as intense as eczema. Psoriasiss other symptoms include:
- Red patches of skin covered with thick, silvery scales
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed or itch
- Burning, stinging or soreness of skin
- Thickened, pitted, or ridged nails
- Swollen and stiff joints
Appearance: Eczema makes your skin red and inflamed, typically appearing in small bumps. It sometimes creates rough, leathery patches that are dark in color. While psoriasis also causes red patches, they typically appear to be scaly, silvery, and raised. With psoriasis, the skin is thicker and more inflamed than with eczema.
Location: Eczema most often appears on parts of your body that bend, such as your inner elbow and behind your knees. Other common locations include the neck, wrist, and ankles. Psoriasis often appears on your knees, elbows, lower back, face, palms, and scalp. Less common locations include the fingernails and toenails, mouth and lips, eyelids, and ears.
Treatments For Eczema And Psoriasis
Treatment for eczema
Doctors usually treat eczema with a corticosteroid ointment or cream. If your eczema is stubborn and doesnt go away, they might prescribe you some immunosuppressants and steroids.
Antihistamines are used for contact dermatitis.
Treatment for psoriasis
Psoriasis needs to be treated differently than eczema. Doctors might prescribe ointments designed specifically for psoriasis that include vitamin D, calcipotriene, calcitriol, or vitamin A as a topical therapy.
If your psoriasis is severe enough, doctors can prescribe phototherapy, which involves using ultraviolet light in controlled doses.
Extremely severe psoriasis is treated with acitretin, methotrexate, or cyclosporine. These are powerful biologic medicines that require careful dosage and oversight by a physician.
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Exploring The Treatment Options
Eczema and psoriasis are both long-term conditions that require long-term treatments. Treatment may depend on the severity of symptoms as well as the size and location of the affected area of skin. Common treatments include topical anti-inflammatories, hydrating skin creams, phototherapy, and biologic or systemic drugs to control the bodys inflammatory and immune responses.
In addition to discussing treatment options with your doctor, its important to avoid factors that may trigger or worsen your symptoms. Eczema may be worsened by wetness or allergies as well as certain cleansers, soaps, and detergents. Psoriasis flare-ups are more likely to follow injuries to the skin and can also be brought about by stress or infection.
The first step in resolving your skin issues is to talk to your doctor to receive a diagnosis. Though both eczema and psoriasis can be chronic, finding the right treatment may help relieve symptoms and reduce flare-ups.
The Skin Flares Begin
After that first Moderna dose I did feel a slight headache and soreness in my arm. But my main concern continued to be my skin. Those first hours and days I checked my skin more times than I could count. If looking at my skin every five or fifteen minutes would stop any rashes or lesions from breaking out then none would have.
Unfortunately, my skin did break out after getting that first vaccine dose.
About five days post jab eczema erupted on my arms and back. My eczema begins with generalized small goose-pimple-like bumps before progressing to larger patches. Those bumps spread to my stomach, legs, and neck quite quickly.
A few days after the eczema broke out I noticed my psoriasis starting to act up too. The most stubborn area of psoriasis I have is on my lower back and side. That area I first noticed my psoriasis worsening. My thighs, lower legs, and arms followed closely behind.
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What Is Inverse Psoriasis
This type of psoriasis appears as extremely red, possibly shiny patches in the folds of your body, including under your arms, behind your knees and in the groin area. Due to the moisture in these areas, inverse psoriasis usually does not cause patches of scales, but because of how your skin rubs together in these areas, it is particularly prone to irritation. Inverse psoriasis is more common in overweight people with deeper skin folds4 and those who have this type of psoriasis may also have other forms of the condition.
Is There A Cure For Psoriasis And Eczema
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the disease with red raised patches covered in silvery scales affecting my knees, elbows and forearms. After educating herself on nutrition, she then cut out caffeine, alcohol, sugar, dairy and wheat. I cleared my psoriasis, eczema and acne, and lost five stone in weight without trying.
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.
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What Does Psoriasis Look Like
Although psoriasis occurs at any age, it most frequently appears between the ages of 16 and 22. If you have skin plaques that may be psoriasis, call specialists like the dermatologists at Park Avenue Dermatology for an evaluation.
There are different types of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is most common.
Thick, red patches of painful, itchy skin can appear on any part of the body, but often on the scalp, lower back, knees, and elbows. Other types of psoriasis appear on other areas of the body, like the feet, underarms, or groin area.
If you have psoriasis, your chance of developing other health problems like psoriatic arthritis, diabetes, Celiac disease, and metabolic syndrome increases.
Both eczema and psoriasis are chronic skin diseases that cause red, dry, scaly skin rashes. Although they share similar signs and symptoms, their underlying causes are different. As a result, the ways in which the diseases are treated can also differ sometimes significantly.
Given this, it is important that you get a formal diagnosis if you suspect eczema or psoriasis. Fortunately, there are ways your healthcare provider can differentiate the two diseases so that they can be treated appropriately and effectively.
Jessica Olah / Verywell
Is It Scalp Psoriasis Or Dandruff
More than half of all psoriasis patients have scalp psoriasis, according to the NPF. Itchy plaques can extend beyond the hairline onto the forehead, neck, and around the ears.
Most people with scalp psoriasis have it on other parts of their body as well, says Dina D. Strachan, MD, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
Scalp psoriasis is sometimes confused with seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff. According to Dr. Strachan, dandruff which causes a flaky, itchy scalp without signs of inflammation tends to itch more than scalp psoriasis. It has a greasy-appearing yellow scale, Strachan says. In contrast, psoriasis whether its on your scalp or any other body part tends to have a thick, silvery scale.
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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.
Does Either Eczema Or Psoriasis Go Away On Its Own
There are currently no cures for eczema or psoriasis, which are considered chronic skin conditions.
But, as mentioned, the vast majority of children with eczema no longer have symptoms by the time they reach adulthood. So there is a chance eczema can go away on its own. If it doesnt, its possible to stave off major flare-ups and control the condition by avoiding triggers and keeping skin moisturized.
On the other hand, psoriasis is usually a lifelong condition and rarely goes away on its own. But, in many cases, its symptoms can be controlled with treatment and good skin care, as well. Avoiding psoriasis triggers can help keep skin clear and flare-up free for long periods of time.
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What You Need To Know About Psoriasis Is Eczema A Form Of Psoriasis
Is Your Stomach to Blame?
Who would have thought that a severe psoriasis outbreak could start because of something going wrong inside of your stomach and intestines? Yet, new research developed by psoriasis expert Edgard Cayce shows a distinct link between a leaky gut and a scaly psoriatic episode. According to Cayce, the primary source of psoriasis can be found in the intestinal tract, where toxins are leached into the body. This causes the immune system to react by thickening the skin. At the same time, the skin tries to purge the toxins through its layers, which can cause scabs and sores to form.
Could Arthritis Be the Cuplrit?
The intestines arent the only link to psoriasis found by researchers arthritis seems to also contribute to it. As many as one-third of all psoriasis patients eventually develop some form of psoriatic arthritis. Unlike normal forms of arthritis, those with psoriatic arthritis do not exhibit a rheumatoid factor when their blood is tested. This indicates that the arthritic condition comes solely from either the psoriasis itself or the underlying cause of the skin affliction.
Could a Virus Be the Cause?
Arthritis has been linked to certain virus and so have other auto-immune disorders. This leads some researchers to think that psoriasis too may start with a virus, which is what kicks the immune system into overdrive.
Is It Eczema Or Psoriasis
Ever wonder about the differences between eczema and psoriasis? Or have you tried to explain the two conditions to someone and found yourself getting confused? Youre not alone. Even the most skin-savvy of us can sometimes get these common disorders mixed up. So, with Psoriasis Awareness Month here in the month of September, weve outlined some key details to clarify things and hopefully help more people get the accurate diagnosis and treatment they need.
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Dermatitis Or Eczema Prevention
Most forms of dermatitis and eczema are chronic conditions. One exception is contact dermatitis. It can be prevented by finding and avoiding the irritant that caused the skin condition.
Its important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis, then try to avoid triggers for your type of eczema or dermatitis .
Other forms of dermatitis can usually be avoided or managed with proper self-care, which includes the following:
- Avoid long showers or baths, which can dry out the skin.
- Use moisturizers like oils, lotions, or creams.
- Avoid irritants that make your skin more susceptible to breakouts, like scented products.
- Dont scrub your skin too hard.
- Use topical steroids to help with itching.
- Keep your fingernails short if you have a habit of scratching.
- Avoid stressful situations that may cause a flare-up.
Establishing a skincare routine can help you manage your atopic dermatitis or eczema symptoms. A doctor can help you come up with a regimen that works for you. You should also take note of things that may have caused your breakouts.
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.
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Can You Use Eczema Cream On Psoriasis
Mild eczema and psoriasis are treated in the same way. Typically, this starts with creams that lower inflammation in the skin, including both topical steroid creams and nonsteroidal creams. You can also use soothing, over-the-counter ointments to help moisturize the skin. These treatments help decrease both eczema and psoriasis flares-ups.
Severe cases of eczema and psoriasis are also treated in a similar way. New medications called biologics treat both conditions by lowering overactivity in the immune system. Dupixent is a biologic medication commonly used to treat severe eczema. And the biologic Skyrizi is a common treatment for severe psoriasis. These medications can also protect the joints from psoriatic arthritis.