The Difference: Eczema vs. Psoriasis

Eczema and psoriasis are two skin diseases that are sometimes confused due to certain symptoms of the diseases being similar.  However both skin diseases have distinct causes and require very different treatments, understanding the differences will help with getting an accurate diagnosis from a dermatologist.  There are a number of factors that can help you distinguish the two diseases depending on the age of the sufferer, the appearance of the skin, and environmental factors.  However if you feel the need for absolute certainty in a diagnosis of eczema vs. psoriasis then a skin biopsy can be performed.

 Eczema vs. psoriasis is characterized by skin that is itchy, scaly, and in severe cases may be raw, red, and may also bleed.  In the case of eczema the skin lesions are also red, scaly in appearance, but the skin lesions are usually moist and may be oozing.  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.  In severe cases of eczema there may be the need to prescribe antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection where the skin is cracked and a possibility of bacteria entering the lesions is possible.

 In the case of psoriasis there are different types of treatment that can be used to bring the disease under control and ultimately to cure the disease.  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.  The type of treatment for both diseases will be determined by the severity of the case and how early treatment is administered by a dermatologist.