Eczeem versus psoriasis - Wat zijn de verschillen?

Causes of Psoriasis and Eczema

Both eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) and psoriasis are thought to have the same cause: an immune system that kicks into overdrive and mistakenly attacks your own body. But the precise process is different for each condition.

"It's different wings of the immune system," said Emily Newsom, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

In psoriasis, overproduction of certain immune-system chemicals causes the outer layer of skin cells to go through the life cycle—forming then sloughing off—in just days rather than a month. The result is a layer of super-fast-forming cells building up on your skin. That's what causes the thick coating of red, silvery scales on your skin that are characteristic of plaque psoriasis—the most common type of psoriasis.

Eczema affects the ability of the skin to protect against outside irritants and allergens.

3 Subtle Differences Between Psoriasis and Eczema, According to Dermatologists

There's one particular symptom that's unique to psoriasis — raised skin.

If you're constantly scratching dry, red patches of skin, you may be wondering if you have eczema. Depending on where that angry itch is, however, psoriasis could be your first guess. The two chronic skin conditions are distinctly different to doctors and experts who treat them, but can be very difficult to distinguish for people who are experiencing it firsthand.

With input from skin care professionals, we're helping you determine whether your skin ailment is eczema or psoriasis — and tips for getting started on treatment.

Eczema

Eczema tends to run in families, especially in those prone to allergies and asthma.

Symptoms of Eczema

Eczema can crop up anywhere, although common areas are in skin folds and on the cheeks, backs of the hands, tops of the arms, and fronts of the legs.

Eczema Triggers

Triggers for eczema include:

• Temperature changes
• Dry skin
• Irritants (for example, wool, dyes, cosmetics, perfumes, and soaps)
• Foods, especially the major allergens (i.e., eggs, peanuts, fish, soy, wheat, and dairy)
• Stress
• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Animal dander

Eczema Treatments

When you have eczema, it's essential to keep your skin clean and well-moisturized. Take short, warm (not hot) showers, and use a non-soap cleanser. Applying a moisturizer to the entire body within three minutes of getting out of the shower can go a long way in protecting your skin's barrier.

When skincare is not enough, topical steroids can improve redness and itching, but you should only use them for short periods. Topical immunomodulators like Elidel (pimecrolimus), Protopic (tacrolimus), and Eucrisa (crisaborole) can improve itching and redness.

For moderate to severe cases of eczema that are not well managed with topical prescription treatments or for which topical treatments aren't advised, Dupixent (dupilumab) and Adbry (tralokinumab-ldrm), biologic medications given by injection, as well as oral JAK inhibitors like Rinvoq and Cibingoare other treatment options.

In severe cases of eczema, you might need immunosuppressants such as Trexall (methotrexate), Sandimmune (cyclosporine), or Imuran (azathioprine).

Pictures of Different Types of Psoriasis and Eczema

Psoriasis and eczema are both skin conditions that have similar symptoms, including skin irritation and inflammation. Some kinds can cause discolored or hyperpigmented skin.

The symptoms of psoriasis and eczema may look the same, but they have different causes. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to build up and become inflamed. Eczema is usually caused by reactions to irritants, allergens, or triggers like stress or dehydration.

And they don’t always appear at the same times. While psoriasis is more common when you’re an adult, eczema tends to show up more frequently in children.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition resulting from your white blood cells mistakenly attacking skin cells instead of bacteria or other infectious substances.

There are several types of psoriasis:

• Plaque psoriasis results in patches of inflamed, scaly skin that have a white or silver appearance. It tends to show up on your scalp, knees, or elbows.
• Pustular psoriasis shows up as large areas of reddish or purplish inflamed skin covered in white blisters filled with pus. It’s most common on your feet or hands.
• Inverse psoriasis causes skin inflammation that looks shiny and red. It’s common in areas like your armpits and groin.
• Nail psoriasis shows up as grooves or pits, as well as noticeable changes in color in your fingernails or toenails. You may also see what looks like blood underneath the nails.
• Guttate psoriasis results in relatively small spots that look pink or purple. They tend not to look as scaly or thick as other types of psoriasis. It usually shows up on your legs, arms, or torso.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis causes severe, burned-looking skin that’s widespread, and may result in large areas of skin peeling off. You may also experience a fever with this type.
• Scalp psoriasis shows up as itchy, scaly patches of skin on your scalp that may look pink, red, dark brown, or purple.