Psoriasis Or Eczema - What’s The Difference?
You are spending a relaxing day with your family and are just taking some time out. In the midst of the happy celebrations you suddenly experience itching and notice some form of red patches on your skin. Now these patches can be eczema skin disease or it can also be another skin condition known as psoriasis skin disease.
What Is The Difference?
Eczema affects the ability of the skin to protect itself against outside irritants and allergens.
Psoriasis, on the other hand, is a condition that occurs when a person’s immune system triggers skin cells to grow faster than they usually should. Instead of dead skin cells coming off the skin, they build up on the skin.
A number of factors may act as causes of eczema. These include environmental factors, bacterial exposure and allergens.
Both eczema and psoriasis are skin conditions that can keep the skin from appearing smooth and healthy. Both conditions can cause itching and red patches but they have different causes and eczema treatment.
The Different Characteristics
Itch
Eczema symptoms include intense itching. It can be so bad that you scratch enough to make your skin bleed.
Psoriasis symptoms also include itchiness, but the intensity is less and it may be associated with a burning sensation.
Appearance
Eczema makes your skin red and inflamed. It may be scaly, oozing or crusty. It’s not covered with scaly dead skin. In eczema skin is so fragile that it cracks very easily. Patches are not as thick as psoriasis plaques and appear mostly as dry skin. The edges are ill-defined.
Psoriasis also causes red patches but they may be silvery and scaly and slightly raised-up from the skin. When you will look closely the skin is thicker and more inflamed than with eczema. Edges are very sharply defined.
Parts of the Body Affected
Eczema often appears on the parts of your body that bend, like your inner elbow or behind your knees, neck, wrist and ankles.
Psoriasis shows up on places like your elbows, knees, scalp, face, lower back, palms, soles, finger nails and ears. Joints may also appear swollen and stiff in severe cases.
Psoriasis can sometimes cause joint stiffness as well as swelling. It can also affect the nails of a person.
Trigger Factors
Certain irritants like soap, detergent or dust can act as trigger factors for eczema.
Psoriasis can be triggered by stress, extreme cold or injury.
Severity
Eczema can become very serious and cover much of the skin’s surface. The amount of skin affected by eczema will depend on the sensitivity of a person’s skin and the exposure of the skin to irritants.
Psoriasis can become widespread and very irritating. Plaque psoriasis may cover almost the entire surface of the body and is also known as Erythrodermic Psoriasis.
Living With Eczema or Psoriasis
Though eczema can be cured, but recurrence occurs and at times it’s hardly noticed later after removal of sensitivity.
Psoriasis is a lifelong condition. The eruptions come and go over time. Lack of awareness regarding the nature of the disease causes many people to feel isolated, frustrated and depressed. It is important to accept the nature of relapse of the disease and trying your best to avoid the triggers.
ECZEMA TREATMENT IN HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy for Psoriasis and Eczema
Homeopathy can work very well for psoriasis treatment as well as in the treatment for eczema. It can go to the root cause of the skin condition and work to cure that. This helps control the recurrence of the condition. Homeopathic medicines for psoriasis and eczema are also natural and free of side effects, thus making them an ideal remedy for psoriasis and eczema.
