Do You Know What Causes Eczema and Psoriasis to Flare Up?

What is psoriasis? What is eczema? What triggers psoriasis? What causes eczema to flare up?

Those are only a few of the questions that people have and causes confusion.

First, let's define psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, that is chronic, and appears on the skin. It is not contagious, and is mostly on the elbows, legs and scalp, but can be anywhere on the body. The most common type of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, although there are 5 different types of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis can be recognized by red patches on the skin, with scales (a buildup of white dead cells). It can be itchy, uncomfortable and even painful at times. There can also be feelings of being overwhelmed, low esteem, and embarrassment. Millions and millions of American people have psoriasis, as many as 7.5 million people according to the National Institute of Health.

Some of the well known triggers for psoriasis are stress, climate change, certain medications (such as lithium), alcohol consumption, skin injury, and diet. Eczema, is a dermatitis(or inflammation of the skin) similar to psoriasis, but is a more of a condition than a disease. Eczema can create skin that is crusty, oozing, scabs that are usually very itchy. It does not have the white, flaky scales like psoriasis. The exact cause is not known, but the immune system is the activator.

Eczema usually is caused by some type of allergy. Most of the times, it is an external trigger that causes the eczema to flare up. Some of the triggers can be detergents, weather, stress, clothing, etc. There are many types of eczema, probably the most recognized is seborrheic eczema, commonly known as dandruff. In the case of dandruff, itching may not be the issue, but yellowish,scaly patches of skin on the scalp. Weather, oily skin and emotional stress, can increase the chance of developing this type of Eczema. Whether someone suffers from psoriasis or eczema, relief is wanted and needed. And as there is not just one type of psoriasis or one type of eczema, nor one trigger to create flare ups, there isn't 1 product that will work for everyone.

If you, or a loved one suffers from psoriasis or eczema, don't give up. There are products out there that work.