Understanding the difference between eczema and psoriasis is essential for effectively improving your skin health. Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can cause itching, rashes, and dry skin. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflamed plaques that may appear red, purple, or silvery-white, depending on your skin tone. Both eczema and psoriasis can affect the elbows, knees, face, scalp, lower back, and intimate areas.
These conditions can affect your ability to focus on daily tasks, impact your sleep quality, and result in noticeable rashes that can cause discomfort or distress. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms associated with eczema or psoriasis, addressing and treating your condition can significantly improve your quality of life.
The team of experts at Phoenix Skin Medical, Surgical & Cosmetic Dermatology has decades of experience helping patients restore their skin health with innovative treatments. Eczema and psoriasis can significantly affect the quality of your life, but with customizable, minimally invasive treatments, we can help you find relief.
Contact our office online to schedule your consultation and learn more about treating eczema and/or psoriasis. If you have any further questions, please call one of our Arizona locations directly.
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About Eczema and Psoriasis and How to Differentiate
Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that manifests as dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Eczema can cause a wide range of symptoms, including redness and bumps. Eczema patients regularly experience discomfort, itching, and even burning; these symptoms can lead to feelings of embarrassment as well.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly targets healthy skin cells, which results in an overproduction of new skin cells, leading to the development of thick, scaly, and itchy patches. (1) It can also result in joint pain and cracked or brittle nails. (1) It affects approximately 60 million patients worldwide and often runs in families due to genetic predisposition. (2) Psoriasis can cause significant changes to the quality of your skin that can also impact your overall well-being.
How Can I Tell the Difference Between Eczema and Psoriasis?
The best way to properly identify whether you have eczema or psoriasis is to have your skin evaluated by a certified provider in dermatology. We recommend scheduling a consultation with a Phoenix Skin expert to address your skin concerns and explore your treatment options.
However, though a proper diagnosis is important, there are a few key differences that you may be able to identify. Both conditions manifest as red, dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Scaly skin is the most notable symptom of psoriasis, and these usually appear as well-defined, thick, silver or white scales. Eczema has less defined edges, more redness, and may ooze a clear or yellow fluid. Eczema is often associated with intense itching, while itching in psoriasis may vary in severity. Additionally, eczema usually occurs during childhood with flare-ups forming as a response to allergens or irritants, and psoriasis is a chronic condition that can flare as a result of stress, infections, or medications.
About Eczema Treatments
While there is no permanent cure for eczema, there are various effective treatments available to manage your symptoms. Addressing your symptoms can help you improve the quality and health of your skin, which can reduce the frequency of flare-ups and decrease the severity of your eczema. Flare-ups may be triggered by allergies, irritants, or stress, and often result in persistent rashes. (3)
Types of Eczema Treatments
Eczema treatments repair the skin barrier to help you reduce inflammation. (4) Treatments are usually topical solutions that help to rehydrate the skin, stop itching, and reduce inflammation. The most effective treatments are:
- Topical Corticosteroids (TCS): TCSs are short-term medications that can address acute inflammation.
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (TCIs): TCIs can address acute flare-ups, and we can also prescribe them as a maintenance medication.
We may also recommend hydrating the skin regularly with daily moisturizers specifically designed for eczema-prone skin. If you are aware of specific triggers, we recommend that you avoid them. Wet-wrap therapy, which involves wrapping the skin with a damp fabric covered by a dry layer, is also an effective way to rehydrate the skin and enhance the results of treatment.
About Psoriasis Treatments
Psoriasis treatments can address itchy skin, cracked and dry skin, skin lesions, and painful rashes. Although there is no known cure for psoriasis, there are several treatments that can address your symptoms and help you manage your condition.
Types of Psoriasis Treatments
As an autoimmune condition, some cases of psoriasis can be difficult to treat. Immunosuppressant medications can work, but they also pose the risk of weakening the immune system. Many of our patients have seen the best results and long-lasting remission through XTRAC EXCIMER laser treatments. This innovative treatment can help reduce psoriasis plaques and related skin symptoms, and is also used in treating vitiligo and some forms of eczema. The treatment system delivers UVB light to bring lasting relief from a variety of symptoms. It delivers the energy directly to the skin while preserving the surrounding tissue to ensure healthy cells remain unaltered. This treatment triggers a process called lymphocytic apoptosis, which eliminates overproductive cells and slows cell turnover, effectively reducing one’s psoriasis symptoms.
During your consultation, our staff will discuss the most effective treatment or combination of treatments for your psoriasis. Contact our office online or call one of our locations directly to begin exploring your options.
Treatment Benefits
Though eczema and psoriasis are frustrating conditions, seeking effective treatment from dermatologic experts can provide impressive results. Under the expert guidance of the Phoenix Skin team, our patients experience advantages like:
- Long-lasting relief: Our well-tolerated therapies help patients reduce the frequency of flare-ups and other symptoms for many months, and sometimes years.
- Improved skin quality: Addressing inflammation can significantly improve your skin’s tone, texture, and quality.
- Enhanced self-esteem: Many patients report improved self-esteem after addressing their condition(s) with innovative treatments personalized to them.
- Natural-looking results: Our treatments work by helping your skin repair itself on a cellular level, meaning that the results you achieve will look like a natural product of your health.
- Improved health awareness: Properly diagnosing and treating your skin conditions will give you deeper insight into your unique health profile and help you live a healthier life.
- Convenient long-term management: Because these treatments are non-surgical, patients can undergo touch-ups or maintenance procedures without a challenge, allowing them to prolong the results they achieve.
Candidates & Consultation
Suitable candidates for eczema or psoriasis treatments would typically like to address inflamed, itchy, and red skin that affects their quality of life and/or appearance. Candidates experiencing regular flare-ups of either condition alongside symptoms like rashes, dry and cracked skin, scaly skin, itching, burning, or any kind of psychological or physical discomfort as a result of their condition may find relief through treatment.
During your consultation, we will perform a physical examination and inquire about your current medications and lifestyle to determine the most effective treatment plan.
Schedule your consultation today by submitting our online contact form. If you have any further questions, please call your closest Phoenix Skin office directly.
How to Prepare
To prepare for your treatment, avoid excessive sun exposure that could damage your skin and affect your results, and also avoid anything that could trigger and/or worsen your condition. Our staff will also provide specific preparation instructions based on your unique treatment plan and medical history.
If you receive topical medications, you will need to consistently apply the medication as directed. Ensuring that your skin has time to absorb the medication is important for optimal results. Regardless of your treatment method, the Phoenix Skin team will be available to guide you through every step of the preparation process.
Results
After addressing eczema or psoriasis, most patients experience relief from symptoms and see their quality of life improve as physical or psychological discomfort fades. Many patients find it easier to participate in activities and wear revealing clothing because they no longer have to hide their condition. Continuously monitoring your condition, investigating and addressing flare-ups, and continuing to discuss your condition with your Phoenix Skin expert will help to ensure long-lasting relief from your symptoms.
Rosacea Treatments
Many patients with either eczema or psoriasis may also experience rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects the face, resulting in redness and visible blood vessels. This condition can also cause bumps, pimples, and thickened skin. Our office offers numerous rosacea treatments. Depending on its severity, we can address your rosacea with:
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatments: These treatments administer high-intensity pulses of light that increase collagen levels.
- Prescription Medications: Various antibiotic medications—and in certain cases, antifungal treatments if another condition is present—can help diminish the appearance of rosacea.
- Chemical Peels: These topical solutions will exfoliate your skin to reveal a fresh, healthy, unaffected layer underneath.
- Red Light Therapy: These treatments use low-level light energy to stimulate collagen production and promote skin healing.
- IPL/YAG Combination Therapy: Many patients will achieve impressive results by undergoing combined laser therapy, allowing them to address multiple conditions in one session.
Cost of Eczema and Psoriasis Treatments in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona
The cost of your eczema or psoriasis treatments will depend on the condition of your skin and whether you need to address multiple conditions. After assessing your condition(s) during a consultation, one of the Phoenix Skin team members will provide you with an estimated price quote. Our practice offers financing options, and some patients may be eligible for insurance coverage as well.
Contact our office online or call us directly to get started at one of the following locations:
FAQ
Is there a cure for psoriasis and/or eczema?
Although there is not currently a cure for either condition, we can help you manage your symptoms to improve your quality of life.
What causes eczema and/or psoriasis flare-ups?
An eczema and/or psoriasis flare-up can be the result of stress or environmental factors. We can discuss your symptoms and perform a physical examination during your consultation to help you identify potential causes and address your symptoms with personalized treatments.
How long will eczema and/or psoriasis last?
This depends on the condition of your skin. Some patients will need to regularly apply topical medications, while others may only require a series of laser treatments. We will create a personalized treatment plan for your specific goals.
References
- Badri T, Kumar P, Oakley AM. Plaque Psoriasis. PubMed. Published 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430879/
- Raharja A, Mahil SK, Barker JN. Psoriasis: a brief overview. Clinical Medicine (London, England). 2021;21(3):170-173. doi:https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2021-0257
- Salas PJ, Forteza R, Mashukova A. Multiple roles for keratin intermediate filaments in the regulation of epithelial barrier function and apico-basal polarity. Tissue Barriers. 2016;4(3):e1178368. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/21688370.2016.1178368
- Brown SJ. Atopic eczema. Clinical Medicine. 2016;16(1):66-69. doi:https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.16-1-66