Psoriasis vs. Eczema: Which One Do You Have and How to Treat It
Psoriasis or Eczema? Identify the Symptoms and the Right Treatment
Eczema and psoriasis share many similar symptoms, making self-diagnosis difficult. While both conditions cause red, inflamed, and irritated skin, subtle differences set them apart. Relying solely on visual inspection—even with a symptom comparison guide—often leads to uncertainty. Since both eczema and psoriasis are chronic immune-related skin disorders, distinguishing between them requires more than just surface-level observation. For an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan, consulting a board-certified dermatologist is essential.
IN THIS ARTICLE
1. Understanding Eczema and Psoriasis
2. Key Differences Between Eczema and Psoriasis
4. Managing and Treating the Conditions
5. Lifestyle and Daily Management
6. Psoriasis vs. Eczema: Accurate Diagnosis Is Key to the Right Treatment
Eczema and psoriasis can appear similar, often causing dry, red, and itchy skin, making them easy to confuse. While these conditions share some overlapping symptoms, key differences set them apart. Understanding these distinctions can help you recognize potential triggers and treatment options.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema, medically known as atopic dermatitis, causes red, itchy, and swollen patches on your skin. These symptoms can appear on your elbows, knees, face, and hands. It's a chronic skin condition. Meaning that once you're diagnosed, you'll require a lifelong treatment to manage it.
Eczema affects 31.6 million Americans of varying ages from children to adults (National Eczema Association, 2025). Most recorded cases are due to genetics, which means your risk of having it is higher if it runs in the family. While not fatal, eczema can considerably impact your quality of life. Emotional distress and sleep disturbances because of intense itchiness can result in low self-esteem and even mental health concerns.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that affects 7.5 million Americans or roughly 3% of the adult population (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2025). Its symptoms manifest as red, scaly, and itchy skin lesions that can crack or bleed. What's concerning about psoriasis is that it can affect other tissues and organs or cause comorbidities. In fact, one in three patients may develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory disease that weakens the joints and entheses. (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2025)
There are different types of psoriasis, each exhibiting varying symptoms.
- Plaque psoriasis: It's the most common case. Raised patches with silvery white scales appear anywhere on the body. They can be itchy and painful.
- Guttate psoriasis: Small, round spots often show on the legs, arms, and trunk.
- Pustular psoriasis: Painful bumps filled with pus surround the swollen skin.
- Inverse psoriasis: Brownish or purple-ish lesions appear in the groin or under the breast. (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2025)
A person can be diagnosed with more than one type of psoriasis at a time and more than one type in their lifetime. (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2025)
Eczema and psoriasis share some common triggers but also have distinct factors that contribute to flare-ups. Understanding these causes can help in managing symptoms and reducing outbreaks.
Causes of Eczema
Eczema leads to itchy, red, and inflamed skin, but no single cause has been identified. Instead, flare-ups are often triggered by a combination of environmental and emotional factors. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2024)
Environmental Triggers of Eczema:
Exposure to certain substances can cause the immune system to overreact, leading to an eczema flare-up. Common environmental triggers include:
- Allergens – Animal dander, mold, pollen, and dust mites
- Irritants – Strong chemicals, dyes, fragrances, and rough fabrics like wool
- Pollutants – Car and factory fumes
- Weather Conditions – Dry air and seasonal changes
- Infections – Respiratory viruses, including influenza
Emotional Triggers of Eczema:
Emotional stress can also worsen eczema symptoms. When stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, inflammation increases, leading to flare-ups. Additionally, some individuals may experience eczema reactions to certain food allergies, further complicating symptom management.
To effectively manage eczema, identifying personal triggers and seeking guidance from a dermatologist is crucial for long-term skin health.
Causes of Psoriasis
Psoriasis triggers vary from person to person and can be categorized into non-genetic and environmental factors. (Liu et al., 2024)
Non-Genetic Factors:
Certain internal health conditions can contribute to psoriasis flare-ups by affecting immune function and skin cell turnover. These include:
- Skin infections – Can trigger or worsen symptoms
- Gut health and imbalance – Disruptions in the gut microbiome may influence inflammation
- Fat metabolism issues – Linked to psoriasis severity and overall skin health
- Hormonal imbalance – Changes in hormone levels can exacerbate symptoms
- Mental health conditions – Stress, anxiety, and depression can worsen psoriasis flares
Environmental Triggers of Psoriasis:
External factors can also provoke flare-ups or worsen existing psoriasis patches, including:
- Skin trauma – Cuts, burns, bug bites, and sunburns
- Certain medications – Beta-blockers, lithium, and antimalarial drugs
- Unhealthy lifestyle habits – Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption
Because psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition, tracking your unique triggers can help improve symptom management. Keeping a skin health journal and working with a dermatologist allows for better treatment strategies and personalized care.
Understanding the distinctions between eczema and psoriasis can help guide treatment and symptom management. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their characteristics:
Since both conditions require professional diagnosis and tailored treatment, scheduling a consultation with a dermatologist is the best way to determine the right approach for managing your skin condition effectively!
Effective treatment for eczema and psoriasis involves a combination of topical, oral, and injectable medications, as well as complementary therapies tailored to each patient's needs.
Treating Eczema
Managing eczema involves addressing skin barrier dysfunction and immune system overactivity. Treatment options may include:
- Moisturizers: Thick, oil-based creams provide deep hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce flare-ups.
- Topical Antibiotics: Prescribed when eczema becomes infected, these help combat bacterial overgrowth.
- Corticosteroids: Available in lotions, gels, ointments, and creams, steroids help reduce inflammation and irritation during flare-ups.
- Calcineurin Inhibitors: These non-steroidal creams (such as Protopic ointment and Elidel cream) suppress the immune response, reducing eczema-related inflammation (National Eczema Society, 2023).
- JAK Inhibitors: Oral medications like baricitinib, upadacitinib, and abrocitinib block inflammatory signals to prevent eczema flare-ups (Kamata et al., 2023).
- Biologics: Injectable medications such as dupilumab, tralokinumab, and nemolizumab target specific immune pathways to control moderate to severe eczema (Kamata et al., 2023).
Your dermatologist may combine multiple treatment options to create a customized eczema management plan based on symptom severity.
Treating Psoriasis
Psoriasis treatment focuses on slowing abnormal skin cell growth and controlling the immune response. Options include:
- Topical Treatments: These include corticosteroids, vitamin D analogs, and salicylic acid, which help reduce scaling, itching, and redness.
- Systemic Medications: For moderate to severe psoriasis (covering more than 10% of the body), doctors may prescribe oral or injectable drugs like retinoids, methotrexate, or cyclosporine (Nazario, 2023).
- Light Therapy (Phototherapy): This non-invasive treatment uses ultraviolet (UV) light to slow down excessive skin cell growth. It’s especially beneficial for widespread psoriasis plaques that do not respond to topical treatments.
- Biologics: These advanced immune-modulating injections specifically target inflammatory pathways to manage moderate to severe psoriasis. As of 2021, 11 FDA-approved biologics were available, with more added since (Brownstone et al., 2021).
Why Treatment Matters
While eczema and psoriasis are not life-threatening, they can significantly impact quality of life. Symptoms such as intense itching, cracked skin, open wounds, and infections can make daily activities difficult. Additionally, these conditions are linked to sleep disturbances, with studies showing that up to 90% of eczema patients and 35% of psoriasis patients experience disrupted sleep (Mann et al., 2024).
Thankfully, there's a wide range of dermatology services available for all skin issues. Your doctor will customize your treatment depending on your case. As long as you adhere to their prescription and advice, you can easily manage eczema and psoriasis.
The choices you make daily—diet, skincare, exercise, and stress management—can significantly impact your skin health. While medications play a key role in managing eczema and psoriasis, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce flare-ups and improve overall skin integrity. Here are some dermatologist-recommended strategies:
1. Watch What You Eat
Your diet plays a crucial role in controlling inflammation and preventing flare-ups. Keep track of foods that trigger your symptoms, such as gluten, dairy, or processed foods. Instead, focus on anti-inflammatory options like: fatty fish, leafy greens, fruits, and nuts.
2. Take Short, Lukewarm Showers
Hot water can strip your skin of essential oils, worsening dryness and irritation. Dermatologists recommend short, lukewarm baths or showers (5-10 minutes) daily.
3. Moisturize Your Skin
Dry skin worsens itching and irritation, so applying thick, fragrance-free moisturizers immediately after bathing helps lock in moisture. Look for products containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin to maintain hydration and strengthen the skin barrier.
4. Choose Hypoallergenic Skin Care Products
Harsh chemicals can further irritate sensitive skin. Opt for gentle, alcohol-free, and fragrance-free shampoos, soaps, lotions, and body washes. Avoid alcohol-based or heavily fragranced products, as they can strip moisture and trigger flare-ups.
5. Wear Soft, Breathable Fabrics
Your clothing can either soothe or irritate your skin. To minimize friction and irritation, choose breathable, natural fabrics like cotton, bamboo, and silk. Avoid wool and synthetic fabrics, as they can be rough and cause excessive sweating, leading to discomfort and itching.
6. Stay Active, But Be Mindful
Exercise helps reduce stress and inflammation, but certain activities can trigger eczema and psoriasis flare-ups. If outdoor workouts cause irritation, consider low-impact activities like swimming (in salt or chlorine-free water), yoga, or strength training.
7. Manage Your Stress Levels
Stress is a major trigger for both eczema and psoriasis. Incorporate relaxation techniques to keep flare-ups in check like yoga, meditation, and journaling.
These activities not only improve mental well-being but also enhance sleep quality, reducing skin inflammation.
If you tend to self-diagnose your skin lesions before getting a clinical confirmation from a doctor, learning about eczema vs psoriasis differences can help. But know there are risks to this. Because of their intersecting symptoms, eczema is sometimes mistaken as psoriasis and vice versa, rendering the treatment less effective.
The best course of action is to visit a clinic and ask about your symptoms directly from a skin expert. They can conduct a more comprehensive physical exam and medical review to accurately diagnose your issue. Plus, they can customize a treatment plan that will likely work for you.
Struggling to determine whether you have eczema or psoriasis? Schedule a consultation with our expert dermatologists today for a personalized diagnosis and effective treatment plan tailored to your skin's needs.