A Closer Look At Eczema And Psoriasis
Eczema and psoriasis are two of the most common chronic skin conditions, and their symptoms can vary drastically from person to person. These skin diseases also span the spectrum from very mild to severe, and since they are fluid, symptoms often ebb and flow. According to Dr. John Papastergiou, BScPhm, PhD, RPh who is Assistant Professor at both the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy, “These skin conditions require lifelong management, with the goal being maximizing the time between clear, asymptomatic skin and flare-ups.”
Dr. Papastergiou also explains, “The root cause of almost all skin conditions is a disruption of the epidermal and possibly the subdermal layers of the skin. When these cells become disorganized, the skin loses water, which causes it to become dry, itchy and flaky. This dehydration can trigger skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.”
Knowledge is power when it comes to eczema and psoriasis. In addition to understanding the details about these skin conditions, getting to know your skin’s unique triggers and committing to a treatment (or maintenance) plan that works for you are the keys for successfully managing symptoms.
Eczema
More than 31 million Americans have some form of eczema, which makes this skin condition the second most prevalent after acne. Eczema can appear as early as the first weeks after birth, during childhood or adolescence, or later in life. This skin condition can affect any area of the body, however areas such as the folds inside the elbows and behind the knees, face, neck, hands, and feet are the most common.
In lighter skin, eczema appears as red, inflamed patches. In darker skin tones, eczema can be brown, purple, gray or ashen. By far, the most common symptom of eczema is itching.
There is no single cause of eczema. Instead, a combination of genetics and environmental factors can come into play. Eczema can be triggered by extreme heat or cold, fragrance, household cleansers, certain fabrics, skincare products, household cleaning products, and other chemicals that come in contact with the skin. Stress can be an eczema trigger as well.
There are seven different types of eczema. It can be hard to tell the difference between them, especially because the symptoms and triggers can be the same. It’s also possible to experience more than one type of eczema in the same area of skin.
1. Atopic dermatitis: The most common form of eczema, atopic dermatitis, is characterized by itching that can lead to rashes—and a compromised skin barrier is believed to play a significant role.
2. Contact dermatitis: Symptoms of contact dermatitis mirror those associated with atopic dermatitis but are caused by a specific substance.
3. Dyshidrotic eczema: This type of eczema causes small blisters on the hands, feet and edges of the fingers and toes.
4. Neurodermatitis: The extreme itching associated with neurodermatitis can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common on the feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and scalp. Excessive itching can lead to deep lines, scales and discoloration.
5. Nummular eczema: This type of eczema appears as round patches of very dry, sensitive skin that may ooze.
6. Seborrheic dermatitis: Common on the scalp, sides of the nose and eyebrows, this form of eczema can lead to itching and flakes (which are larger and thicker than the flakes associated with dandruff).
7. Stasis dermatitis: This type of eczema develops in the presence of poor leg circulation and the symptoms resemble atopic dermatitis.
Psoriasis
Affecting more than 8 million people in the United States and 125 million worldwide, psoriasis can first appear at any age, but there are peaks of onset between the ages of 20 and 30 as well as 50 to 60 years old. The most common areas affected by psoriasis include the knees, elbows, trunk, face and scalp.
The most common form, plaque psoriasis, presents as raised, scaly patches on the skin. The patches may appear red in lighter skin tones and purple in more melanated skin. The most commonly reported symptoms of psoriasis are itching, burning, stinging and extremely dry skin that may crack and bleed.
In addition to a combination of genetics and environmental factors, it is believed that an overactive immune system plays a role in the rapid increase in skin-cell production that leads to psoriasis. Although symptoms of psoriasis may first be limited to the skin, it’s important to understand that this is a systemic disease that can affect the entire body.
There are five types of psoriasis that are relatively easy to identify based on appearance.
1. Plaque psoriasis: Red patches covered in silvery-white scales are the most common presentation of psoriasis.
2. Guttate psoriasis: More likely to affect children and young adults, flare-ups are often preceded by an upper respiratory infection and appear as small red dots on the limbs or torso.
3. Pustular psoriasis: This type of psoriasis causes pus-filled bumps surrounded by red skin, usually on the hands and feet.
4. Inverse psoriasis: Smooth, red patches develop around skin folds, such as under the breasts, in the groin or in the armpits. Sweating and friction can make this type of psoriasis worse.
5. Erythrodermic psoriasis: This rare and serious type of psoriasis leads to red, scaly skin over most of the body.
Although not technically a type of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is a related condition that causes stiff, swollen or painful joints as well as back and neck pain. If you experience these symptoms, it’s imperative to see a doctor because psoriatic arthritis can lead to permanent damage if left untreated.
How Phoilex Can Help
Successfully managing eczema and psoriasis requires restoring balance to the skin. Phoilex takes a comprehensive, clinically proven, inside-out approach to optimizing skin health during and between eczema and psoriasis flares—without steroids.
Phoilex Active ReLeaf Spot Gel feature our proprietary Phyto-Active Blend™. Comprised of seven botanicals with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this unique mix of ingredients has been clinically shown to provide hydrating, healing and soothing benefits when the skin is both calm and experiencing a flare.
Dermatologist-tested Active ReLeaf Spot Gel was formulated to be an effective steroid-free alternative for dry, itchy, flaky skin. Its key ingredients work synergistically to provide the skin with hydration, reinforce the skin barrier, calm irritation, and support the healing process. In a clinical study of patients with eczema, 83% felt immediate relief after applying Active ReLeaf Spot Gel and 93% noticed relief from itchiness in just two weeks.
Phoilex Liverty Dynamic Drops complement the results of Active ReLeaf Spot Gel internally by supporting the liver function and addressing the effects stress can have on the skin barrier. This daily oral tincture was inspired by the vital role the mind-body connection plays in overall skin health.
Dr. Papastergiou emphasizes, “We created Phoilex to give patients a proven-effective alternative to topical steroids without the side effects and potential risks associated with their long-term use. We are seeing patients along the entire spectrum who showed definitive improvement at six weeks.”
Steroids aren’t the only way to get relief from itching and inflammation. The key for restoring and maintaining balance in skin prone to eczema and psoriasis is giving it the hydration and soothing it needs. This is why Phoilex represents a better way to get relief.
