Eczema and psoriasis

Treatment Psoriasis treatments aim to stop skin cells from growing so quickly and to remove scales. Options include creams and ointments (topical therapy), light therapy (phototherapy), and oral or injected medications. Which treatments you use depends on how severe the psoriasis is and how responsive it has been to previous treatment and self-care measures. You might need to try different drugs or a combination of treatments before you find an approach that works. Even with successful treatment, usually the disease returns. Topical therapy • Corticosteroids. These drugs are the most frequently prescribed medications for treating mild to moderate psoriasis. They are available as oils, ointments, creams, lotions, gels, foams, sprays and shampoos. Mild corticosteroid ointments (hydrocortisone) are usually recommended for sensitive areas, such as the face or skin folds, and for treating widespread patches. Topical corticosteroids might be applied once a day during flares, and on alternate days or weekends during remission. Your health care provider may prescribe a stronger corticosteroid cream or ointment — triamcinolone (Trianex) or clobetasol (Cormax, Temovate, others) — for smaller, less-sensitive or tougher-to-treat areas. Long-term use or overuse of strong corticosteroids can thin the skin. Over time, topical corticosteroids may stop working. • Vitamin D analogues. Synthetic forms of vitamin D — such as calcipotriene (Dovonex, Sorilux) and calcitriol (Vectical) — slow sk...

Atopic dermatitis behind the knees Atopic dermatitis can cause a very itchy rash. Atopic dermatitis most often occurs where the skin flexes — inside the elbows, behind the knees and in front of the neck. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a condition that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin. It's common in young children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long lasting (chronic) and tends to flare sometimes. It can be irritating but it's not contagious. People with atopic dermatitis are at risk of developing food allergies, hay fever and asthma. Infantile eczema Atopic dermatitis in infants (infantile eczema) appears here as red, itchy patches on very dry skin. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) symptoms can appear anywhere on the body and vary widely from person to person. They may include: • Dry, cracked skin • Itchiness (pruritus) • Rash on swollen skin that varies in color depending on your skin color • Small, raised bumps, on brown or Black skin • Oozing and crusting • Thickened skin • Darkening of the skin around the eyes • Raw, sensitive skin from scratching Atopic dermatitis often begins before age 5 and may continue into the teen and adult years. For some people, it flares and then clears up for a time, even for several years. When to see a doctor Talk with a health care provider if you or your child: • Has symptoms of atopic dermatitis • Is so uncomfortable that the condition is affecting sleep and daily activities • Has a skin infection — look for new streaks, pus...

Maybe you're settling into your easy chair for a little Sunday siesta. Or you're heading out the door for a day of fun in the sun. Either way, you stop and pause because you've got an itch that just won't leave you alone -- along with blotches of red on your skin. What gives? Your doctor needs to make the final call, but How Psoriasis and Eczema Feel Different Eczema causes an intense itch. It can get so bad that you scratch enough to make your skin bleed. Psoriasis could also be itchy, but there's something extra going on. Your skin may sting or burn. Some people say it feels like you're getting bitten by fire ants. The Differences In Appearance Eczema makes your skin red and inflamed. It may be scaly, oozing, or crusty. You may see rough, leathery patches that are sometimes dark. It can also cause swelling. Psoriasis can also cause red patches. They may be silvery and scaly -- and raised. But if you look closely, the skin is thicker and more inflamed than with eczema. Where They Show Up Eczema often appears on parts of your body that bend, like your inner elbow or behind your knees. You can have it on your neck, wrists, and ankles. Babies sometimes get it on their chin, cheeks, scalp, chest, back, arms, and legs. Psoriasis often shows up on places like your: • Elbows • Knees • Scalp and face • Lower back • Palms of your hands • Soles of your feet You may also have patches on other areas, such as: • Fingernails and toenails • Mouth and lips • Eyelids • Ears • Skin folds W...

Nail psoriasis. Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022 Appearance Eczema and psoriasis can both cause dry, red patches of thickened skin, but there are some specific characteristics that can help separate one from the other. For example, scaling is a major sign of psoriasis. You may have scaling if you have eczema, but it doesn't always happen. • If you have psoriasis, the itching is thought to happen because the inflammation in your skin bothers nerve receptors called nociceptors. • Nociceptors also get irritated in eczema, but the irritation is made worse by an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) that is linked to allergies. People with eczema have IgE antibodies, but people with psoriasis do not. Polygonal plaque psoriasis. Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand www.dermnetnz.org 2023. The T-cells target new (immature) skin cells called keratinocytes. The inflammation makes the cells divide faster. Usually, it takes 28 to 30 days for new cells to turn over. In psoriasis, they do so every three to five days. • In eczema, the inflammation causes swelling of the outer layer of your skin ( spongiosis). Under a microscope, there will be large spaces between the skin cells and visible papules and vesicles. • In psoriasis, the inflammation causes your skin to make too many skin cells (hyperproduction of keratinocytes). Under a microscope, the skin cells will look thick and compressed ( acanthotic). • Immunosuppressant drugs: Methot...

You’ve likely heard about the link between good health and what you eat, and the importance of changing your diet when there’s a problem. For example, if you have elevated cholesterol, you should go easy on cheese and red meat, both of which are known to be high in unhealthy saturated fat, and instead opt for lean poultry and veggies. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. If you have a skin condition like Is there a connection between diet and eczema? Sometimes. “Some people do have a specific intolerance or allergy to somethingin particular, and that can cause eczema outbreaks,” saysfamily medicine specialist “If they come across a certain type of plant, something in the environment, or a certain type of animal dander, their asthma will act up. It’s the same thing with eczema,” says Dr. Hussain. “There could be something that their body just doesn’t react well to — and when that happens, they get an eczema outbreak.” Digging into which specific foods trigger eczema symptoms is more difficult because everybody has different sensitivities. What bothers you and causes an eczema flare might not have a similar effect on someone else. However, Dr. Hussain says, “anything with anti-inflammatory properties is good for most inflammatory skin conditions,” a category that includes eczema, Will a specific diet plan help control my eczema? It depends. No ...

If you’ve got itchy, discolored, and flaking patches of skin, it’s natural to be a bit concerned about what’s causing those symptoms. And although it’s always best to book an appointment with a dermatologist when new skin symptoms crop up, it’s inevitable that you’ll be doing a little bit of self-diagnosis (hello internet research rabbit hole), and likely doing a Psoriasis and eczema are two fairly common skin conditions, and both cause symptoms like itching and visible inflammation. These two conditions also share a few other similarities: They’re both chronic, which means symptoms are managed, not cured, and both can be triggered by genetics and environmental factors. What are psoriasis and eczema? | Why are eczema and psoriasis mistaken? | Age of onset for psoriasis vs. eczema | Symptoms of psoriasis vs. eczema | Areas of the body | Causes of psoriasis and eczema | Psoriasis and eczema diagnosis | Is stress a trigger for psoriasis and eczema? | Treatments for psoriasis vs eczema Why are eczema and psoriasis sometimes mistaken for each other? Eczema may sometimes be mistaken for psoriasis because it causes a painful, itchy rash that may even appear raised. To the untrained eye (or anxious self-diagnoser), this might make an eczema patch look like a psoriasis plaque. Psoriasis and eczema aren’t likely to be confused by a trained dermatologist, though, It’s tempting to think of eczema as “psoriasis light,” which will eventually worsen and become psoriasis. But eczema will ...

Certain symptoms of eczema and psoriasis can help determine which condition you have. Eczema tends to develop in the folds of the skin, while psoriasis develops on outer surfaces, such as the elbows or scalp. Eczema and psoriasis are two common skin conditions that can cause inflammation, irritation, and skin discoloration. The two conditions are very similar. If you or your child has a chronic rash-like condition, it’s not always easy to know if it’s eczema or psoriasis. Fortunately, there are some significant differences in appearances and symptoms that can help you get a better idea of which condition you might be looking at. A dermatologist can confirm a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan. In this article, we take a closer look at these two skin conditions, including symptoms and causes, and how they’re treated. A dermatologist is the best person to assess and diagnose either condition. But here are some significant differences between the two conditions that can help you get a better idea of which one you might have. Eczema Eczema (also called Eczema often develops during childhood, but it can start at any time. When eczema starts during childhood, it’s common for it to resolve by adulthood. When eczema starts later in life, the condition is often chronic. Psoriasis Psoriasis can start at any age, but it’s more common in adults. It typically appears in early to late adulthood. While eczema only affects the skin, psoriasis can affect other parts of the body. Psor...