Dermatology

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that dries the skin. In milder causes, the skin will be dry, scaly, red, and itchy. In severe cases, there may be weeping, crusting, and bleeding. Medication can help improve the symptoms.

What causes eczema?

Researchers do not fully understand the cause of eczema. Genetics and family history of eczema may play a role in developing the condition. People with eczema have an abnormality in the outer layer of the skin, which is called the epidermis. The epidermis serves as a protective barrier from foreign substances. It also prevents the skin from losing too much water. Patients with eczema have an epidermis that is less strong and less resistant.

What are symptoms of eczema?

Most patients develop eczema when they are just a child. People can still develop the condition as an adult. An intensified need to itch the skin and dry flaky skin are the primary indications of eczema. Other symptoms include:

Increased creasing of the palms and lower eyelid
Darkening of the skin around the eye
Small bumps on the face, upper arms, and thighs

Eczema in adults:

Eczema in adults differs slightly from eczema in children. The skin tends to appear very dry and scaly. The location of eczema can appear in different parts of the body in adults compared to children. These locations include:

The back of the knee
Face
Back of the neck
The crevasses of the elbow

Is there a cure?

Currently, there is no cure for eczema. There are treatments available to treat the symptoms associated with the condition.

To learn more about eczema, there are several resources listed below:

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a condition that causes scaly, red, and white rashes. The body’s immune system is out of control and attacks the skin. Medication can help make the symptoms better.

What causes psoriasis?

The skin is made up of several layers. Normally it takes 28 days for the cells at the lower levels of the skin to reach the top layer. People with psoriasis make skin cells at a faster rate. This causes the skin to be inflamed. Researchers do not completely understand the cause of psoriasis. They believe that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. In an autoimmune disease, the body mistakenly attacks healthy cells. Genetics also plays a role in patients having the condition. Environmental factors may also trigger the illness.

What are symptoms of psoriasis?

Common symptoms of psoriasis include:

Patchy rashes
Scaly skin
Dry/cracked skin
Skin irritation
Burning or soreness

Is there a cure?

There is no cure for psoriasis, but treatment can help symptoms, improve the skin’s moisture, and slow skin cell growth.

To learn more about psoriasis, there are several resources listed below:

Psoriasis Patient Information Fact Sheet

References:

Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline. American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.aad.org/member/clinical-quality/guidelines/atopic-dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis 101 for adults – National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://nationaleczema.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FactSheetAD_101_Adults_FINAL_edited.pdf?x73548

Caring for eczema easy as 1, 2, 3 – national eczema association. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://nationaleczema.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FactSheet_Skincare_FINAL.pdf

Trigger tracker prescription treatments for eczema. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://nationaleczema.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FactSheet_Eczema_Treatments_FINAL.pdf

Psoriasis – MPR. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.empr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2018/12/psoriasis_0513_8438.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, August 18). Psoriasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/psoriasis/index.htm#:~:text=Psoriasis%20causes%20patches%20of%20thick,psoriasis%20is%20called%20plaque%20psoriasis.