Eczema and psoriasis are two skin diseases that are sometimes confused due to certain symptoms of the diseases being similar. However upon closer examination these diseases are very different and are caused by different things, need different treatments, and are distributed differently depending on the type of skin disease. The course of treatment for eczema vs. psoriasis is also very different; understanding how the diseases are caused and what characterizes each one can help when undergoing treatment for either skin disease. However if you feel the need for absolute certainty in a diagnosis of eczema vs. psoriasis then a skin biopsy can be performed.

Skin lesions caused by psoriasis are usually thick, raised, red, and the skin is usually scaly in appearance; psoriasis lesions are also dry. Raised patches of reddish skin on the other hand indentify psoriasis; a white or silvery layer usually covers these patches and the knees, elbows, scalp and lower back are most commonly affected. In some chronic cases of eczema the skin lesions can look more like psoriasis lesions; however eczema lesions will have the telltale sign of oozing. The areas that are affected by skin lesions can also help to determine if a person is suffering from eczema or psoriasis.

When determining if a person is suffering from eczema vs. psoriasis the most distinguishing factor is if the skin lesions appear on the outer parts of the hands and knees or the inner parts of the hands and knees. When the skin lesions appear on the back of the elbows and front of the knees are indicative of psoriasis. On the other hand skin lesions that appear on the inner arm and the back of the knees are usually symptomatic of eczema. Eczema can however be managed and controlled with the use of topical ointments and treatments; it is also advisable to avoid contact with skin irritants to prevent further outbreaks.

In the case of psoriasis there are some bath solutions, medicated creams, and ointments that may be used for treatment. Phototherapy is another treatment that may be used to help with psoriasis, narrowband UVB is thought to be the most helpful treatment. It is important to avoid scratching when dealing with both diseases as broken skin can lead to the possibility of bacterial infection. A dermatologist will be able to help determine the diagnosis, though a skin biopsy may help to further confirm an initial diagnosis of either eczema or psoriasis.

Tags: Absolute Certainty, Chronic Cases, Different Things, dry flakey skin, eczema, Elbows, Hand Skin, Hands And Knees, Inner Arm, itchy skin, Psoriasis, Psoriasis Eczema, Skin Biopsy, Skin Care, Skin Disease, Skin Diseases, Skin Irritants, Skin Lesions, Skin Problems, Telltale Sign, These Patches, Topical Ointments, Treatment For Eczema, Undergoing Treatment

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 at 12:07 am and is filed under Acne. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.