The Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis

Skin diseases are very problematic and discomforting. Eczema and psoriasis are two of the very common skin diseases. Generally people can confuse eczema and psoriasis as they are unable to differentiate between both the skin conditions. To get the correct medication the correct diagnosis is required. Consult a qualified dermatologist to firstly identify the skin problem and then take medication accordingly. You should have adequate knowledge about the difference between eczema and psoriasis to avoid taking incorrect mediation and worsening your condition.



Both the terms eczema and psoriasis are derived from Greek language. Psoriasis originates from the word "psoera" which means "to itch" and Eczema means "boil out". Eczema and Psoriasis generally attack people of different age groups. Eczema is known to be more prevalent in children than in adults, whereas psoriasis is more prevalent in adults than children. Nearly 20% of the children in UK and US and 3% adults are found to be affected by eczema. Comparatively only 3% of adults in UK and US have psoriasis.



The causes of eczema and psoriasis are also very different. Eczema is known to be caused by environmental irritants like perfumes, sprays, deodorants, cosmetics etc. On the other hand psoriasis is known to be caused due to genetic factors and not environmental factors like eczema.



On the face of it both eczema and psoriasis may look very similar in appearance, but on observing closely you would be able to differentiate between eczema and psoriasis. In the case of eczema the patient has dry red skin in the form of blisters that itch tremendously. In the case of psoriasis the patient has raised red skin which is very rough and itches too.



Unfortunately both eczema and psoriasis do not have any final cure. However, proper treatments can help relieve the patient to a large degree. Generally eczema symptoms are less severe but psoriasis symptoms can be very grave in nature and spread all over the body.



Certain food items also cause flare-ups of eczema. A careful study of which foods cause eczema flare-ups can help keep the eczema under control. With psoriasis there are no such clear indications on diets that may cause flare-ups. However, doctors advise to lower the intake of sweets and fatty foods to keep psoriasis under control.



It is not surprising that there is confusion between what the difference between psoriasis and eczema is, given the surface similarities of the two. To avoid taking wrong medication and precautions, carefully get your symptoms diagnosed by a certified dermatologist. Let them study your family history, lifestyle and symptoms in detail and diagnose the disease correctly. Only after a correct diagnosis is done should you choose the medication you want to adopt.