Eczema and Psoriasis Difference

Infants and children are the ones who commonly suffer from eczema.This condition is an itchy inflammation of the skin, which affects the arms and areas behind the knees. Psoriasis, is also a skin disorder, that is persistent and chronic in nature.This disease leads to rapid build up of cells on the surface of the skin. Due to this malfunction of the skin cells, the skin develops thick silvery scales, along with painful patches which are dry and itchy.

Eczema vs Psoriasis

What Causes Eczema?
Eczema has no known causes which have been identified till now. However, assumptions relate the presence of dry, irritated skin and an unhealthy immune system, to the development of this skin condition. Although stress and other psychological factors are known to aggravate the condition of eczema, they do not cause it.

What Causes Psoriasis?
Unlike eczema, psoriasis is associated with a number of factors which are responsible for its development and occurrence. The causes of this condition are related to overactive T lymphocytes or T cells. These cells tend to attack healthy skin cells, needlessly and give rise to different kinds of symptoms of the disease. It has also been found that gene mutations may also cause this illness. Strep throat or thrush, stress, frost, smoking, alcohol abuse, skin injury and intake of certain medications are known to be the triggering elements of psoriasis.

Symptoms of Eczema
Symptoms which are indicative of the development of eczema include itching that may get severe at night, cracked and thick scaly skin, patches which are red to brownish-gray in color. The affected person may notice small raised bumps on the affected area. These bumps may easily leak fluid and crust over, when scratched. The severe itching may make the person scratch the skin so harshly, that the skin may appear raw and become abnormally sensitive.

Symptoms of Psoriasis
A person suffering from psoriasis exhibits symptoms such as dry and cracked skin (that may sometimes bleed), nails which become pitted, ridged or thick, stiff joints which are swollen and small scaling spots. Itching, burning and soreness on the affected area of the patient and red patches of skin which have a silvery scale covering, are the other psoriasis symptoms.

Treatment of Eczema
For mild cases of eczema, over-the-counter anti-itch creams are good enough for the treatment, when combined with a few self-care measures at home. It is advisable to stay away from feather pillows, down comforters, mattresses, carpeting drapes, etc. These materials trap dust and thus, may aggravate the symptoms and the condition. Medications which are generally prescribed by the doctor for treating eczema, include corticosteroid creams or ointments, antibiotics, oral antihistamines and oral corticosteroids. There are medications known as immunomodulators which affect the immune system. These medications are however, recommended to be used, when other medicines fail to show any improvements in treating the condition. In some cases, light therapy is also employed for treatment purpose.

Treatment of Psoriasis
Treatment options for psoriasis are numerous, with different kinds of medications and methods available. The treatment mainly focuses on affecting the process which is responsible for the abnormal production of skin cells. It also deals with removing the scales and smoothing the skin. Topical treatments are effective against mild to moderate cases of psoriasis. The medications include topical corticosteroids, Vitamin D analogs, topical retinoids, anthralin, calcineurin inhibitors, salicylic acid, coal tar and moisturizers. These topical medications may be required to be used in combination with other oral ones and light therapy techniques, for severe cases of psoriasis.The oral medications include retinoids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, hydroxyurea and immunomodulator drugs. The methods included in the light therapy use of sunlight, UVB phototherapy, narrowband UVB therapy, photochemotherapy or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), excimer laser and a combination of two or more of these methods.

I hope, the above description regarding each aspect of the illnesses has been able to differentiate eczema from psoriasis in detail. So we can infer that these two conditions have nothing in common with each other, except, being skin diseases.