How to distinguish eczema from psoriasis in order to start an effective treatment? This question is faced by people who find strange flaky rashes on their skin. It is extremely difficult for an ordinary person to understand the features of these pathologies. But if you know the differences between eczema and psoriasis, then it will be difficult to confuse them.
Features of Psoriasis
What is this disease? Psoriasis is a skin pathology that manifests itself in the form of rashes of pink plaques with dense silver scales. This disease is characterized by a chronic course. Psoriasis is a severe form of dermatosis, during the period of exacerbation of which almost all internal organs and systems suffer.
If you do not treat this defect, over time its symptoms will worsen, take a more extensive form. For people suffering from psoriasis, even the onset of disability is not ruled out, and in advanced cases, a completely fatal outcome.
This pathology can occur in different ways. Depending on the variety, psoriasis can cover different parts of the body. Appearing papules may also have different sizes and shapes. In some cases, in addition to the skin, the disease affects the nails and even joints. It is because of its versatility that doctors decided to classify the pathology.
There are two types of psoriasis:
- the usual form and psoriatic erythroderma, devoid of pustules;
- a large group of species implying the presence of pustules.
Causes of Psoriasis
What causes this disease? Further treatment tactics depend on the answer to this question. The causes of psoriasis are:
- malfunctions of the immune system;
- genetic predisposition;
- disturbances in the activity of the endocrine system;
- pathological changes in metabolic processes.
Such problems can lead to similar problems:
- various injuries;
- lowering the protective properties of immunity as a result of diseases;
- unbalanced nutrition;
- stress, depression, emotional stress;
- dramatic climate change.
Although in fact this list is not exhaustive, because psoriasis is such an insidious disease that can appear even because of a banal runny nose. At least this applies to people who already had pathological rashes.
Diagnostic Features
What is the difference between psoriasis and eczema? This disease has several features that allow you to differentiate it.
- If the papule that appears on the skin is slightly scraped, it will begin to peel off very much. This means that the dermis is covered with stearin spots.
- When the scales are removed, a smooth pink surface appears - the upper shiny layer of the skin is exposed, it is also called the terminal film.
- If you damage this pink surface, tiny blood spots appear on it.
With aggressive exposure, trauma and attempts to get rid of rashes mechanically, new papules arise. So do not engage in such a "treatment".
Causes of Eczema
This is a skin pathology, which is characterized by the formation of inflammatory rashes on the integument. There is an acute and chronic form of eczema. The disease itself is prone to regular relapses. Patients always complain of severe burning and itching in the affected areas.
There are several varieties of eczema that differ from each other in the localization of foci of inflammation, the nature of the symptoms and the causes of the appearance. Most often, the onset of this disease is associated with such factors by doctors:
- hereditary predisposition;
- endocrine disorders;
- lack of immunity;
- nervous strain;
- infectious and allergic pathologies.
Most often, lesions and inflammations that appear on the skin are the response of the immune system to various stimuli.
Eczema features
What is the difference between eczema and psoriasis? There are several stages of the course of this disease through which most patients with this diagnosis go.
- Erythematous phase. Swelling, redness, and then severe itching occur on the skin - this is how the disease begins.
- Papulovascular form. At this stage, groups of vesicles called vesicles appear on the skin.
- Wet phase. Papules are torn, small erosions occur without a definite outline, from which serous exudate oozes. As a result, the skin constantly gets wet, and the itching intensifies.
- Cortical stage. Gradually, the exudate dries, forming serous peels.
Over time, the acute form of the disease becomes chronic, the skin becomes dense. The crusts begin to peel off, however, new vesicles and papules may appear on the integuments.
Similarity of pathologies
Psoriasis and eczema are completely different diseases, but still they share some common features:
- and both defects occur in a chronic form;
- cover the skin;
- some places of localization coincide - both psoriasis and eczema often develop on the palms, scalp, feet and face;
- seborrheic eczema is characterized by severe flaking, similar to ordinary psoriasis;
- diseases appear for the same reasons.
Can eczema go into psoriasis? These are completely different diseases, which, although they appear for the same reasons, have different symptoms and nature of origin. So, eczema and psoriasis are not related to each other.
If the doctor doubts the correctness of a suspected disease, the patient is additionally prescribed examinations.
What is the difference between psoriasis and eczema
Contrary to popular belief, the differences in these diseases are quite a lot, so it’s almost impossible to make a mistake with the diagnosis. To determine the pathology, you need to know the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
Doctors distinguish several features of eczema.
- When scraping the crust on the papule, a bright red patch of skin appears.
- The rash is constant wet.
- The development of pathology is accompanied by severe burning and itching in the affected areas.
- Eczema occurs on softer, more sensitive areas of the skin - on the bends of the elbows and knees, on their inside, by the armpits.
- Detachment of flakes is most often accompanied by inflammation and exudation.
- Lesions have fuzzy outlines.
- The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of blisters.
- If the pathology affects the hands, there is a feeling that it is a fungus, but there is no thimble syndrome.
And how is psoriasis different from eczema? This disease also has a number of characteristic features that allow you to accurately determine the diagnosis.
- When scraping the scales, pink skin appears on which small spots of blood appear.
- Psoriasis is usually localized on coarser areas of the skin - directly on the knees and elbows.
- Papule flakes always remain dry.
- Patients rarely complain of burning and itching at the initial stage of the development of the disease.
- The first signs of psoriasis are miniature papules.
- Dead particles of neoplasms slightly rise above the covers.
- The main difference between psoriasis and eczema on the hands is inflammation of the nails with the occurrence of thimble syndrome - fossa.
- The contours of the affected areas almost always remain clear, since they are limited to a pink stripe.
Therapy Features
The causes and treatment of psoriasis and eczema are largely similar to each other. So, therapy for both diseases is aimed at:
- elimination of irritants and initial causes;
- removal of emotional stress;
- relief of allergic manifestations, especially relevant for eczema.
But in all other respects, the methods of treating these diseases vary significantly.
How to treat eczema
Therapy with this pathology is primarily aimed at eliminating the pathogen, symptoms and inflammatory process.
How to treat eczema? During therapy, the patient is prescribed:
- hyposensitizing agents for stopping signs of allergy;
- antihistamines - "Fenistil", "Tavegil", "Diprazin" are used to reduce itching;
- immune correctors - Likopid, Imudon, Ribomunil;
- antibiotics for stopping bacterial inflammation;
- antifungal agents fight fungal infections;
- B vitamins;
- diuretic medicines - "Lasix", "Trifas", "Uregit";
- in severe forms of the disease, corticosteroids are used.
Among other things, to alleviate the condition, patients are allowed to use alternative recipes.
Psoriasis therapy
The treatment of this pathology requires the use of more complex techniques. And all because a wide variety of forms and varieties needs individual complex therapy. In addition, if a patient has metabolic disorders, autoimmune failures and joint damage, he needs additional correction.
- To eliminate itching, inflammation and peeling, local preparations with tar and salicylic acid are used. By the way, ointments from psoriasis and eczema can be the same. Most often, these drugs are recommended: Pikladol, Super Psori Cream, Kerasal, Gemozol.
- Strengthen the immune system with the help of vitamin complexes.
- The patient must be prescribed antihistamines - Peritol, Diazolin, Suprastin.
- Uncontrolled growth of epithelial cells can be stopped using retinoids and cytostatics.
- Nonsteroidal drugs help reduce the manifestations of the inflammatory process.
- Steroid medicines have anti-allergic and immunosuppressive effects, they are necessary to stabilize metabolic processes and stop inflammation.
- If the patient has a psoriatic form of arthritis, chondoprotectors are additionally prescribed.
- After removing the acute stage, the patient is recommended physiotherapeutic measures.
In addition, psoriasis and eczema require compliance with a number of rules during treatment:
- nutrition control;
- avoidance of stressful situations;
- maintaining a good mood.
These conditions also play an important role in restraining the progress of skin diseases.
Alternative medicine
It’s worth mentioning right away that folk remedies are not able to completely relieve you of problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Alternative medicine can only help you eliminate some of the unpleasant symptoms and external manifestations of these diseases. By the way, many of them effectively fight not only eczema and psoriasis, but also other types of dermatitis. Just remember that it is impossible to dwell on traditional medicine alone - the therapy should be comprehensive. This is the only way to get rid of eczema and psoriasis.
Folk remedies can significantly alleviate the patient's condition and bring a good result, especially in combination with traditional methods.
- Collection of herbs for dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. It should include nightshade and nettle leaves, soapwort and valerian roots, violet flowers and mint. All ingredients should be taken in equal proportions. Pour the collection with three glasses of hot water and boil under the lid. Cook the remedy on low heat for 5 minutes. You need to take strained broth in a hot form for half a glass 3-4 times a day.
- There is another, no less effective collection of herbs from skin pathologies. It consists of an immortelle, a string, rose hips, chicory roots and hawthorn berries. The broth should be prepared in the same way, and it should be taken half a glass 2-3 times a day.
- With eczema and pathologies, compresses with ryazhenka and orange peels can be used. Leave them preferably all night.
Conclusion
But even if you know how eczema differs from psoriasis, you should not self-medicate - entrust this matter to a specialist. He will not only determine the exact diagnosis, but also select the optimal treatment tactics.