Eczema vs Psoriasis – How To Tell The Difference
Eczema vs psoriasis, how can you tell the difference? They have so many things in common. Psoriasis and eczema are both chronic, inflammatory skin conditions. They’re both characterized by noticeable red patches of dry scaly red rashes on certain parts of the skin. The exact causes of both of these diseases are unknown but they share the same triggers. They even share some of the same drugs for treatment.
Eczema and psoriasis share a lot of the same symptoms which include:
- Skin irritation
- Skin redness
- Inflammation
- Itching
- Dry skin
| Eczema of the arm vs psoriasis of the arm |
For most people, eczema is barely distinguishable from psoriasis. However, there are distinct differences in their symptoms that are enough for an expert to distinguish between these two diseases even without performing a skin biopsy and/or other means of diagnostic testing. Most cases of psoriasis manifest in scaling or flaking of the skin while blisters and sores occur more commonly with eczema.
One of the ways you can tell the difference between psoriasis and eczema is the location of the affected skin. The table below illustrates the difference between eczema and psoriasis in terms of location.
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Eczema vs Psoriasis |
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| Location | Eczema | Psoriasis |
| Face | Usually found on the cheek | Usually found on the eyebrows and nose folds |
| Neck | Usually appears on the throat and nape | Mostly appears on the nape |
| Bellybutton | Rare | Common |
| Armpits | Rare | Common |
| Scalp | Rare | Common |
| Mouth and Lips | Common | Rare |
| Nipples and areola | Common | Rare |
| Buttocks | Common | Occurs predominantly in the gluteal cleft |
| Hands | Usually appears on the back of the hand | Usually appears on the palms |
| Feet | Usually appears on the surface of the foot | Usually appears on the soles of the feet |
| Fingernails | Rare | Common |
Eczema and psoriasis both share the same type of triggers. Some of the triggers they have in common include:
- Stress
- Changes in temperature and humidity
- Skin irritants and injuries
- Harsh chemicals
Eczema, however, can also be triggered by foods or substances that have allergenic components like eggs, nuts, and dairy. Psoriasis may also be triggered by allergens but not as strongly as eczema. Another difference is psoriasis can also be triggered by respiratory infections; this is often not the case with eczema.
Some treatments will work for both psoriasis and eczema; drugs like
- Topical treatments with coal tar and anthralin,
- Corticosteroids,
- Immunomodulators,
- Immunosuppresants,
- Antibiotics, and
- Antihistamines.
To get an accurate diagnosis, you’ll still need to go to a doctor. Only your doctor can make the diagnosis of eczema vs psoriasis. Your doctor would also be the one to make an accurate assessment of your condition and make recommendations so you can get the best treatment possible and take better care of your skin.
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