Health Conditions / Skin Health / Psoriasis

Research suggests that the biggest culprits are synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, which are usually made with cheap dyes that can bleed off. Cotton blends and corduroy are also commonly treated with wrinkle-resistant finishes, says Dr. Chen. Contact dermatitis tends to occur in areas of the body that get sweaty or rub against clothing, such as your armpits, upper back, waistline, or inner thighs. “The clothing that’s going to have more direct contact with the skin is more likely to cause a problem,” she says. (Think underwear, swimwear, sportswear, or the inner linings of skirts and dresses.)Many people won’t develop reactions to these irritants if they choose to forgo a first wash, but research finds that textile-based contact dermatitis isn’t uncommon. Dr. Chen’s take: It’s a reasonable precaution to wash your new clothes to rinse off any residue, especially if you have sensitive skin. In her own life, she always washes first: “It’s an easy enough thing to do, and it’s not worth the potential issues” to just wear clothes off the rack, she says.Clothes are likely swarming with germs. Dyes and chemicals aren’t the only possible issue. Though it’d be nice to believe your purchases came straight from a sterile (albeit chemical-filled) environment, that’s likely not the case. There’s a solid chance that other shoppers tried on your items first (either in the store or before returning them), or that they were handled by people working in a manufacturing facility, warehouse, or brick-and-mortar store. And if another person touches the clothing, it automatically has the potential to carry all kinds of pathogens, like staph, norovirus, and even bits of feces (see why I’m now pro wash?). “Man leaves his imprint of microorganisms on whatever he touches—whether it’s a countertop or a piece of clothing,” Dr. Tierno says.In 2010, Dr. Tierno swabbed a bunch of store-bought clothing for a Good Morning America segment and found all types of germs: respiratory secretions, vaginal organisms, and fecal matter. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but this is especially a risk with vintage or second-hand clothes. In fact, some research has shown that used garments can be contaminated with the bugs that cause pediculosis (lice infestation) and scabies—no thank you! That doesn’t mean all previously owned clothes are a health issue waiting to happen, but just that it’s worth putting your new-to-you finds through the wash before wearing them, just in case.This all really depends on the type of clothing, too, says Dr. Tierno: Underwear and bathing suits are more likely than, say, a puffer jacket to contain another person’s flora, the group of microorganisms that lives on each and every one of us, because those items are worn closer to intimate body parts. Some of those germs can survive on dry fabric for a few days; others—like staph or E. coli—can live for weeks and even months on clothing. Don’t panic, though: The overall risk of getting sick from germs living on your new clothes? “Pretty low,” says Dr. Tierno. Your body is covered in microorganisms that do a pretty good job of protecting you from infectious intruders, he says. But that doesn’t mean the risk is zero—especially for the elderly, people with psoriasis or other skin conditions that can cause cracking or weakening of the skin, and those living with a chronic disease making them more susceptible to getting sick from microorganisms, he adds. If you ordered your items online and they arrived sealed in cellophane, you’re less likely to come down with something if you jump right into your clothes, says Dr. Tierno. But if you bought the items at a store where people may have touched them or tried them on, it can’t hurt to run them through the wash (ideally, on a hot setting, since heat can kill unwanted germs). “That’s a safe bet, especially when you’re dealing with underwear and things that are not packaged,” Dr. Tierno says. As for me? Now that I know we’re all “bathed in fecal matter as a society,” as Dr. Tierno told me, I’m gonna hold out until my new outfits have been through the spin cycle. Even if the risk of getting sick from my new yoga pants is low, I’d rather rest easy knowing they aren’t teeming with teeny-tiny bugs. Related:

If you regularly read skin care stories, you’ve probably come across the often-touted advice to patch test new products before trying them. (It’s certainly a suggestion SELF has made more than once!) But what exactly does patch testing a new serum or moisturizer entail? Is it something everyone really needs to do, or does it fall more into the “wash your comforter weekly” advice category—a goal that’s idealistic, but probably won’t happen every time it should? We asked a few top dermatologists for their take on this common recommendation, as well as step-by-step instructions for how to patch test skin care products at home.What is skin care product patch testing?There’s no rocket (or even dermatological) science involved here: A DIY patch test simply involves applying a small amount of a new product on an inconspicuous spot—before you slather it all over your face or body—and monitoring your skin to see how it reacts. (More on all of those specifics to come.) “It helps let you know if you’re going to experience a reaction to a new product before you’ve applied it on your face, where a reaction is much more unpleasant to deal with,” Hadley King, MD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City, tells SELF. Just don’t confuse this with professional, in-office patch testing, during which a dermatologist or allergist tests specifically for reactions to potential allergens, like common skin care ingredients or environmental substances. To that point, a DIY patch test at home can help you determine if you can tolerate a particular product, but if you have a reaction, it won’t pinpoint exactly which ingredient is causing the problem, Michelle Henry, MD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City, tells SELF.Who should consider patch testing skin care products?All of the dermatologists SELF spoke with agreed that, ideally, at-home patch testing is a good idea for everyone and every type of product that has prolonged contact with your skin, from moisturizer to makeup. However, it can admittedly be time-consuming and cumbersome. As such, they all also emphasized that patch testing is especially important for certain people. If you have a history of sensitive skin; have reacted poorly or experienced irritation after using new products in the past; have rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or other chronic skin conditions; or have known skin allergies, at-home patch testing is particularly important, says Dr. King. You can also decide whether or not to patch test based on the kind of product you’re trying. “Most people can get away with not patch testing mild formulas, such as fragrance-free moisturizers that don’t contain any active ingredients,” Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego and a clinical professor at Scripps Encinitas Memorial Hospital, tells SELF. On the flip side, any product with a lengthy ingredients list and/or actives such as retinoids, exfoliating acids, or vitamin C, should be patch tested before you fully incorporate it into your routine; these are more likely to elicit a reaction, Dr. Palm advises. How to patch-test a skin care productOur experts offered up some slightly differing pieces of advice, so you have options.The forearm methodDr. King suggests applying a thin layer of the new product to a nickel-sized area of clean, dry skin on the inside of the forearm. Why here? It’s a discreet spot, so if a reaction does show up, it won’t be super visible. Still, the skin is delicate enough that it’s comparable to the skin on your face, she explains. Leave it on and don’t wash it off, then reapply the product—the same amount in the same spot—as often as the instructions recommend, be that once or twice daily. 

There are various types of psoriasis, and each can come with its own set of challenges. Plaque psoriasis, the most common form of the skin condition, causes inflamed, localized rashes that are thick, scaly, and super itchy, for example. There’s also guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, and even nail psoriasis; all of them can cause life-disrupting symptoms that require thoughtful care. Erythrodermic psoriasis, however, is one you may be less familiar with. Unlike other types of psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to avoid serious complications. Here’s what you need to know about this rare skin condition, including why it can be life-threatening.What are the symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis?Erythrodermic psoriasis is not common: It affects around 1% to 2.25% of people with psoriasis, research suggests. This type of psoriasis is akin to an anaphylactic allergic reaction in someone who has significant food allergies, Lindsey Bordone, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, tells SELF.The condition causes the majority of the skin’s surface to become highly inflamed, which makes the affected areas look like they’ve been badly burned, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). People with light-to-medium skin tones will typically see bright redness, while people with deeper skin tones may notice a purple, gray, or dark brown hue.And the symptoms go beyond the appearance of the skin. “People tend to feel that their skin is hot and uncomfortable, sometimes downright painful,” Peter Lio, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF.Erythrodermic psoriasis also affects the body’s ability to sweat and regulate body temperature, which can lead to hypothermia or severe dehydration—both of which can be dangerous if not addressed quickly. These side effects can ultimately cause someone to experience uncontrollable shivering or feel feverish, almost like they have the flu.The condition can develop suddenly (over the course of just a few days) or gradually (over the course of a few months), and it often expands from an existing psoriasis plaque. Back to topWhat causes erythrodermic psoriasis?A majority of people who develop erythrodermic psoriasis have already been diagnosed with another form of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, typically plaque psoriasis, the AAD notes. Experts aren’t sure what, exactly, causes it, but they suspect it boils down to a trigger—like an infection or illness, allergic reaction, or even a gnarly sunburn—that sets off a cascade of worsening inflammation, Dr. Bordone says. Erythrodermic psoriasis may also be triggered by taking certain medications, oral steroid withdrawal, excessive alcohol consumption, or stress in people who are susceptible.Back to topWhat are the potential complications of erythrodermic psoriasis?“Erythrodermic psoriasis is serious and needs to be addressed by medical professionals as soon as possible,” Dr. Bordone says. That’s because, without swift treatment, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or hypothermia caused by the skin condition can be life-threatening. Erythrodermic psoriasis also increases a person’s risk of developing other serious complications like heart failure, pneumonia, or sepsis, per the Cleveland Clinic.Seeking medical care ASAP is the most important thing you can do to avoid these complications. “If someone has a fever or abnormally low body temperature to the point where he or she cannot stop shivering, then an emergency room evaluation is needed,” Dr. Bordone stresses. The same goes if a person has unstable vital signs, like a racing heart or dizziness, she says.“Because several [other] life-threatening conditions can also present with [these symptoms], including things like drug reactions, it is extremely important to get a firm diagnosis and start supportive treatment right away,” Dr. Lio says. A few other rare skin disorders and connective tissue disorders can also mimic the symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis.

If your symptoms continue to flare even after you see a dermatologist, it’s important to keep using any treatments that your dermatologist has prescribed for you while you reach out to them about reassessing your regimen.2. Consider light therapy.Light therapy is one of the most common, effective psoriasis treatments for people with mild to moderate psoriasis. There are many different types of light therapy available, like narrow-band UVB therapy, broad-band UVB therapy, and laser treatments. Depending on your symptoms and what type of psoriasis you have, your doctor may recommend you try just one type of light therapy or a combination of them. The exact reason that light therapy effectively treats psoriasis is not very well understood, but researchers believe it suppresses cells in the skin related to the immune response, ultimately calming down inflammation. There are likely multiple intricate processes going on in the body that create this effect.If your doctor recommends light therapy, you’ll likely need to visit their office about three times each week, for 10 to 15 minutes per session, Dr. Ferris says. Over time, you probably won’t need to go in for treatment as frequently. “I have some patients who come maybe once a week, and that really maintains them,” Dr. Ferris says, adding that other people do well coming in just once every two weeks. 3. Try to keep stress levels low.“Managing stress as much as possible is always ideal,” Dr. Burris says. This is true for anyone, but especially for someone with psoriasis. “We don’t really know why stress causes [psoriasis and other] skin diseases to flare, but it really does,” Dr. Ferris says.2If you’re not sure how to relieve stress, consider yoga, meditation, journaling, exercise, sharing your feelings with a friend, or making an appointment with a therapist or other mental health professional. These stress-relieving activities and grounding exercises are a good place to start too.4. Steer clear of hot showers.A hot shower or bath in the winter might feel great at the time, but in the long run, it isn’t doing you any favors. In fact, hot water can seriously dry out your skin and strip it of nourishing oils.  The AAD recommends keeping showers and baths to 10 minutes or less and showering or bathing in warm water rather than hot water. 5. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.Dry skin is rampant in the winter, and all the more so if you have psoriasis. The Mayo Clinic recommends that people with psoriasis use a moisturizer every day—or even more than once a day if it helps your skin symptoms. Get in the habit of moisturizing right after you shower, and reapply lotion during the day if your skin feels dry and uncomfortable. The AAD also recommends sticking to fragrance-free creams and ointments to avoid irritating sensitive skin.Dr. Ferris says that over-the-counter moisturizers containing salicylic acid can be helpful because they help get rid of dry skin and thin or soften psoriasis plaques, making it easier for topical medications to access the skin, which could make them more effective. Dr. Ferris notes that most over-the-counter moisturizers and shampoos with salicylic acid contain such low concentrations (2–6%) that it’s not typically irritating, especially when it’s in a cream or ointment.6. Sleep with a humidifier.A humidifier adds moisture back into the air, which can be helpful if your skin tends to be dry, cracked, or painful during the winter. Dr. Burris recommends using a humidifier at night during the cold, dry winter months to reduce dryness and the urge to scratch—which just makes things worse. “Dry skin is itchy skin, and the less one scratches, the less likely they will experience a flare in their underlying psoriasis or even eczema,” she says.7. Take precautions to avoid getting sick.As we know, infections and illnesses can trigger psoriasis flares. That becomes a much bigger risk during cold and flu (and COVID and RSV) season, when viral illnesses are more common, Dr. Burris says.

If you have painful skin symptoms that just won’t quit—you know, dryness that leads to obvious cracks, inflammation that just feels awful, or intense itchiness—and you’ve traveled down a rabbit hole via Dr. Google, then you’ve probably come across information on either eczema or psoriasis.These skin conditions are different and complex in unique ways, but their respective lists of symptoms can overlap quite a bit, making them difficult for the average person (read: anyone who’s not a trained dermatologist) to tell apart.If you think that suspicious rash could be a sign of eczema, psoriasis, or maybe even both, here’s some information to help you navigate what you’re experiencing, straight from dermatologists.First, a little bit about how psoriasis is defined.At its core, psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, meaning it’s caused by a glitch in the immune system that causes the body to mistakenly attack healthy skin cells. Because of this immune malfunction, the body overproduces skin cells, which then accumulate and pile up on the skin’s surface, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).Plaque psoriasis, the most common form of the condition, causes raised lesions—often with a scaly appearance with a silver-to-gray plaque, depending on your skin tone—that can manifest anywhere on the body and feel itchy, tender, or even painful.There are various forms of psoriasis, so the symptoms can vary widely. But plaque psoriasis often appears on areas like the elbows, knees, trunk, and scalp, Esther Kim, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center, tells SELF. You may even start to feel pain in your joints: When inflammatory arthritis occurs alongside psoriasis, it’s called psoriatic arthritis, Dr. Kim says.Many people with psoriasis experience flare-ups, or periods of time when symptoms become more active. These flares can last anywhere from weeks to months, and there is a range of triggers that can set them off, from infections and illnesses to skin stressors (like cuts and scratches) to changes in weather and stress levels, per the AAD.Like other autoimmune conditions, the root causes of psoriasis aren’t well understood, but researchers believe that both environmental and genetic factors are at play, Dr. Kim says.…and here’s a little eczema 101.Eczema is an umbrella term for a group of skin conditions in which the skin barrier (the outermost protective layer) is damaged, leading to itchy, dry, and inflamed skin, per the AAD. Eczema is broadly referred to as atopic dermatitis, the most common form of the condition, but there are various types of eczema that have different triggers. An eczema rash can look and feel different from person to person but may include small raised bumps, dry or cracked skin, itchiness, and oozing or crusting, among other symptoms that generally signal irritation. “Intense itch is a hallmark of eczema,” Dr. Kim notes. “Because of the itch, patients often suffer from a persistent itch-scratch cycle that can lead to thickening of skin and scratches that render the skin prone to superficial skin infections.”

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition at its core—but there’s a lot more happening beneath the surface. Psoriasis—which affects an estimated 7.5 million people in the US—is the result of an overactive immune system, which causes chronic inflammation. While we most often see the effects of this inflammation in the skin, it can also travel to other areas of the body, potentially affecting the nails, eyes, joints, heart, and more.Read on to understand exactly what happens when you have psoriasis, how it might affect your body beyond the skin, and some treatment options that can help.What’s happening with your immune system?When your body needs to respond to an infection, an injury, or a substance that threatens your health in some way (like an allergen), your immune system should kick in to release various cells that fight potentially harmful invaders and protect the body. These cells travel to the affected area and start the healing process, causing inflammation. Here’s the problem: When your immune system is in overdrive, as is the case with any autoimmune condition, including psoriasis, it continues to pump out a large number of inflammatory cells, even when there’s no true threat to the body happening.In people with psoriasis, it’s thought that there’s a faulty immune response that mistakenly identifies healthy skin cells as threatening, which causes the repair system to malfunction. This kicks off an overgrowth of new skin cells, which is what causes the hallmark psoriasis rash. The majority of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, in which the “rash” appears as scaly patches, or plaques, on the skin’s surface.This rash is just one visible sign of inflammation, but a doctor can measure inflammatory markers in your blood, Benjamin Ungar, MD, an assistant professor in the department of dermatology of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tells SELF. People who have psoriasis are more likely to have other autoimmune conditions as well, including certain forms of arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In fact, 25% of people with autoimmune diseases have more than one type—often a skin condition among them, research shows.1And constantly having higher-than-normal levels of inflammation can wreak havoc on everything from your joints to your arteries, potentially leading to confusing body-wide symptoms.Psoriasis and your cardiovascular healthHaving moderate-to-severe psoriasis ups your risk for cardiovascular health issues and metabolic diseases, like high cholesterol and obesity, Dr. Ungar says. While there’s not a clear-cut reason why psoriasis may play a role, research suggests that systemic inflammation in the body is associated with a buildup of plaque and cholesterol in your arteries, which can eventually block healthy blood flow and put you at risk for heart disease.2Because of these potential health risks, it’s a good idea for people with psoriasis to have annual blood pressure and cholesterol readings, and talk with their physician about any family history of heart disease, Samar Gupta, MD rheumatologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, tells SELF. Beyond these checkups, focus on what’s in your control, such as working closely with your care team to find the best treatment for your psoriasis and adopting heart-healthy habits like eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly in some way, he adds. Getting proper sleep and prioritizing stress-reducing habits are key too.Psoriasis and your jointsAbout 30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory condition of the joints, tendons, and ligaments, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Most people are diagnosed with psoriasis first, though it is possible to develop the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis—such as joint pain, lower back pain, and swelling in fingers, toes, and feet—before psoriasis, says Dr. Gupta.

Not recognizing this shade difference may be why some doctors confuse psoriasis with everyday skin irritation, eczema, a drug reaction, or even an infection in people of color, says Dr. Robinson. But there are other clues that may point to psoriasis.For example, “you can touch the patient and feel that the inflamed area is usually warm,” says Dr. McKinley-Grant. A thorough dermatologist will ask about your family history since the condition can (but not always) have genetic roots, she adds. In case your doc is uncertain, they might also take a small biopsy (a skin sample) and examine it to be sure of the diagnosis and rule out any other skin conditions.2. Rare types of psoriasis tend to be more common in people of color.While plaque psoriasis is the most prevalent form of the condition, “there are also rare subtypes that appear more frequently in certain racial and ethnic groups,” Dr. Robinson says. For example, researchers have found that pustular psoriasis—which appears as inflamed, scaly, pus-filled bumps4—is more common among Asian and Hispanic communities.5Asian people are also more likely to have erythrodermic psoriasis,5 which covers the body in a red, burn-like rash and can be fatal if it’s not treated quickly. What’s more, Asian and Black people tend to be more vulnerable to scalp psoriasis, in which plaques pop up around the scalp, hairline, forehead, back of the neck, and on the skin around the ears.6This is important to know because getting an accurate diagnosis can be complicated if you’re dealing with a form of psoriasis that’s rarer in white people, according to Dr. Robinson, especially if you’re seeing a doctor who’s not experienced in treating darker skin. (You can check out our resources below to help you find a doctor who is well-versed in treating darker skin tones.)3. Certain treatments may not be ideal for your skin color and hair type.While there is still no cure for psoriasis, there are plenty of treatment options to help keep the symptoms at bay, no matter how much melanin is in your skin. These include prescription-strength creams and ointments, phototherapy, oral and injectable medications, and scalp oils and shampoos, among others.However, special considerations need to be made for a few treatments. One, for example, is phototherapy, which involves exposing the skin to a controlled amount of ultraviolet light. “People with darker skin tones require higher doses of phototherapy in order for it to be effective,” Dr. Takeshita says. However, phototherapy can tan the skin and make any unwanted dark spots you have darker, which people of color are especially susceptible to, according to the AAD. If that’s the case for you, standing in a lightbox a couple of times a week may not be the best way to go.For scalp psoriasis, you also need to think about your natural hair texture, how often you prefer to wash it, and how you like to style it, says Dr. Robinson. Frequent shampooing with medicated formulas, which may be recommended in combination with oral medication, can help to remove the scales, but if you have dry hair or washing often doesn’t align with your hair care routine, there are other options out there to help keep your hair as happy as possible.

Eczema can cause pink to brownish-gray patches of inflamed skin, depending on your skin tone, especially on your hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, and around the elbows and knees. One thing to keep in mind: “Eczema is more commonly found on the inside of the knees and elbows,” Dr. Wassef says. “Psoriasis is more common on the outside of the elbows and knees.”Those rashes are a little different from what you’d see compared to, say, plaque psoriasis, board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics and professor of dermatology at Howard University and George Washington University, tells SELF. Psoriasis tends to be more raised and can have that silver or grayish scale on top of the irritation. While both eczema and psoriasis can cause itching, the latter can also be painful, Dr. Rodney says. A stinging or burning sensation is also common with psoriasis.The main triggers also tend to be different. Eczema triggers, per the AAD, tend to be irritants or allergens that touch the skin and set off a reaction, like certain foods or ingredients in skin-care products and soaps. In this case, it’s common for the rash to just show up in the one affected spot, Dr. Rodney points out. Psoriasis triggers aren’t as cut-and-dry; flares are typically related to stress, weather changes, illnesses and infections, skin injuries, and certain medications, according to the AAD, but contact with irritating substances may worsen affected areas as well.Psoriasis vs. hivesHives are raised, itchy bumps that can form on your skin in response to a trigger, like an allergen or an infection, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). While you probably won’t confuse plaque psoriasis with hives, the differences are a little less clear when it comes to guttate psoriasis, since this type of psoriasis shows up as tear-drop-shaped, inflamed lesions that can look similar to hives.However, there are a few differences in the look and feel between guttate psoriasis and hives. “Hives usually start and end within 24 hours, while psoriasis can last for weeks and months,” Dr. Wassef says. Hives are also “very itchy” and can get more swollen when you scratch, she adds, which isn’t usually the case with guttate psoriasis.Guttate psoriasis also usually follows an upper respiratory infection like strep throat, according to Mount Sinai experts, and the bumps tend to be scaly. Hives, on the other hand, tend to resemble swollen bug bites, per the ACAAI.Nail psoriasis vs. fungal infectionIf one or more of your nails start to become discolored, lift up from the nail bed, or even appear crumbly, it’s easy to think you might have some kind of fungal infection. But all of those can be signs of nail psoriasis as well, which the AAD says about half of people with plaque psoriasis will experience at some point. Both conditions can appear quite similar, but there are a few differences. With nail psoriasis, “the nail can develop pitting, stripes, and become so brittle that they crumble,” Dr. Rodney says, but there often isn’t as noticeable discoloration. With a fungal nail infection, the entire nail will often turn yellow or brownish. Fungal infections can also be stinky, per Dr. Rodney.

A psoriasis diagnosis can be overwhelming. Suddenly, you’re told you have a chronic skin condition with no cure—and that’s a lot to take in. So, it’s totally understandable if go through the rest of your doctor’s appointment in a daze. Once you come out of it and process this information, you probably have questions. Like, a lot of questions.While your doctor will probably run through the basics—symptom management, recognizing flares, treatment options—they can’t cover everything in one appointment or even know all of the details you need for your particular lifestyle. That’s why connecting with other people who have psoriasis—about 7.5 million in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)—can be helpful.With that in mind, we spoke to several people living with psoriasis to learn the best questions they’ve asked their doctors—and why their answers were so helpful. Keep these on the back burner for your next doctor’s visit if you’re still navigating the nuances of this disease.1. Can psoriasis affect my health beyond my skin?Fitness and nutrition coach Lauren Scholl was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was 16 years old, and she didn’t fully understand at the time how the condition could impact her overall health.“Everyone suffers from psoriasis differently,” she tells SELF. “I had it on my elbows and ankles and I was like, ‘Nobody notices those things. I’ll live with it.’” But Scholl, now 34, says it wasn’t until she started asking questions that she learned psoriasis could be linked with other symptoms she was experiencing, like joint pain.When she was 28, Scholl was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects roughly 30% of people who have psoriasis.1 “I definitely never would have thought that my skin patches could be linked to joint pain,” she says. “Nobody ever asked me if I had joint pain. If they had, I would have said ‘yes’ and I could have been properly treated sooner than I was.”2. What do I need to know about my type of psoriasis?Sarah Boutwell was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was 12 and psoriatic arthritis when she was 23. Now, at 37, Boutwell tells SELF she’s struggled with symptoms like red, itchy patches on her elbows and knees and smaller red dots on her legs and arms.“I have red spots on 85% of my body most of the time,” Boutwell says. “But now that I’m at an age where I don’t care what people think anymore, I’m no longer afraid to wear shorts and other clothes that show my skin. My skin deserves to see the sun without being judged for my spots.”Boutwell says it’s been helpful for her to find out more about her particular form of psoriasis: guttate psoriasis. (Psoriasis can appear in many forms, including plaque psoriasis, which is the most common type, as well as guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis, all of which have unique symptoms that affect the skin differently.)

If you’ve got itchy, discolored, and flaking patches of skin, it’s natural to be a bit concerned about what’s causing those symptoms. And while it’s always best to book an appointment with a dermatologist when new skin symptoms crop up, it’s inevitable that you’ll be doing a little bit of self-diagnosis (hello, internet research rabbit hole), and likely doing a psoriasis vs. eczema comparison.Psoriasis and eczema are two fairly common skin conditions, and both cause symptoms of itching and visible inflammation. These two conditions also share a few other similarities: They’re both chronic, which means symptoms are managed, not cured, and both can be triggered by genetics and environmental factors.That being said, the treatment options and long-term management of psoriasis and eczema are quite different. So, it’s important to know for sure which one you are dealing with. “Both eczema and psoriasis cause inflamed, scaly areas on the skin, and to the untrained eye, they can look similar,” Alan J. Parks, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Columbus, Ohio, tells SELF.SELF spoke with several board-certified dermatologists to lay out the difference between eczema and psoriasis.What are psoriasis and eczema, exactly?Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects about 7.5 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It happens when your skin cells go through their life cycle more quickly than normal. Typically, it takes about a month for skin cells to regenerate, but in people with psoriasis, this cell-turnover process happens every three to four days, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The buildup of new skin cells results in flaky scales on the skin’s surface.Eczema is much more common than psoriasis, affecting between 2 and 10% of all adults.1 Eczema causes patches of dry, itchy skin that tend to turn into a rash when you scratch or rub it. These patches are prone to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. That’s because, at its core, eczema is tied to a gene variation that affects the skin barrier and its ability to protect your skin from everything from bacteria to irritants and allergens. Eczema flares are triggered by environmental and lifestyle factors, such as irritating skin care products, dry skin, and stress. The main symptom of eczema is itchy, flaky skin, but people who have eczema as children are more likely to develop asthma and environmental allergies.Back to topWhy are eczema and psoriasis sometimes mistaken for each other?Eczema may sometimes be mistaken for psoriasis because it causes a painful, itchy rash that may even appear raised. To the untrained eye (or anxious self-diagnoser), this might make an eczema patch look like a psoriasis plaque.Psoriasis and eczema aren’t likely to be confused by a trained dermatologist, though, Azeen Sadeghian, MD, FAAD a board-certified dermatologist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, tells SELF. But she notes that there are some exceptions. “Some cases are challenging because the eczema patches have become thickened enough to resemble psoriasis,” she says. Experts call this thickening “lichenification.”It’s tempting to think of eczema as “psoriasis light,” which will eventually worsen and become psoriasis. But eczema will not develop into psoriasis. They are two separate conditions, with separate underlying causes. However, it is possible to have both eczema and psoriasis. This condition is called eczematous psoriasis, sometimes known as PsE, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.2Both psoriasis and eczema cause redness on lighter skin tones. If you have darker skin, that redness might look more like brown or purple discoloration. These differences can sometimes lead to a misdiagnosis, or a delay in the time it takes to get a proper diagnosis, according to the National Eczema Foundation. “It might be harder to perceive redness or what we call erythema because of the pigment of the skin,” explains Dr. Sadeghian. She also points out that psoriasis can rev up the pigment production in skin of color, causing darker plaques.The National Psoriasis Foundation notes that a delay in diagnosis can mean people with darker skin tones aren’t able to take advantage of early treatment options. Research is still underway to understand how to best identify psoriasis in people with darker skin tones.Back to topWhat is the age of onset for psoriasis vs. eczema?One big difference between eczema and psoriasis is the age of diagnosis. Eczema is commonly found in children, many of whom grow out of their symptoms or see a severe reduction in symptoms as they age. That doesn’t really happen with psoriasis.