You could be relaxing on the couch on a Sunday, finishing up at the gym, or busy running errands when you notice that irritated spot or patch on your skin still has not gone away. Maybe it’s the itch or burning sensation that’s driving you crazy, or the red or pink color that worries you. Or maybe it’s the fact that skin seems thicker in that area, and has a scaly appearance and will sometimes shed or flake when it comes to contact with clothing. If these symptoms sound familiar to you, you may be dealing with eczema or psoriasis, two common skin conditions that 3% of the entire global population struggle with daily. But before you start furiously researching treatment options, it’s imperative that you first identify what kind of skin problem you’re dealing with. Whether you’ve developed this skin condition recently, or have been fighting skin issues for years without professional treatment, it’s important to seek the help of a dermatologist that can provide you with an exact diagnosis and a focused treatment plan. Armed with this information, you’ll be well on your way to managing your eczema or psoriasis.

Symptoms of Eczema:

• Eczema often appears on areas of your body that bend, such as your inner elbow area or behind your knees. It can also appear on your wrists and ankles, neck, or hands.
• Babies will oftentimes get eczema on their chest, back, arms, legs, and chin, cheeks, and scalp.
• Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is defined by its extreme itch.
• Eczema often appears in patches.
• It commonly appears as a dry, red, scaly rash that’s almost always itchy and swollen.
• The itch can be so severe, that people struggling with eczema may actually scratch skin until it bleeds, leading to further issues.
• It is most commonly experienced by infants and children.
• Half of those who experience childhood eczema continue to struggle with milder symptoms as they age.

 

How to Prevent and Treat Eczema:

Unfortunately, the exact causes of eczema remain relatively unknown. Everyday things that you likely come in contact with daily can however, can create eczema flare-ups. Pollen, certain detergents and soaps, cigarette smoke, food sensitivities, dust, the cold, certain fabrics, changes in temperature, and even just general stress, are all known eczema triggers. If this list is making your head spin, don’t worry. The trick is to eliminate each trigger until you’ve narrowed down the possibilities, and can more easily avoid these triggers on a day-to-day basis.

However, eczema isn’t contagious. But if your family members have eczema, asthma, or hay fever, you know may know who to blame! Eczema usually runs in the family, and children are more likely to develop this stubborn rash if a parent has it.

The best way to treat eczema is to seek help from a trusted dermatologist to first identify the issue. You don’t want to waste time on a treatment plan without a proper professional diagnosis. From there, a dermatologist will be able to discuss a skin treatment plan that will work best for you. Your dermatologist may prescribe certain creams or lotions that could help clear skin and relieve the itch, and will help create the next steps to avoid eczema for good.

 

Symptoms of Psoriasis:

• Psoriasis can also present itself like an itchy rash.
• Psoriasis may also sting or burn.
• It can appear as red patches of skin covered with a thick, silvery, scaly texture
• On children, it commonly appears as small, scaly spots.

 

There are several different types of psoriasis.

• Plaque psoriasis is the most common form, and is defined by the dry, raised, red lesions covered with a scaly texture. These patches are itchy and painful, and can occur anywhere on your body and even inside your mouth.
• Nail psoriasis causes abnormal fingernail or toenail growth and could even loosen or separate nails from the nail bed.

If these psoriasis symptoms sound familiar, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist so that you can receive the treatment and the relief you deserve as soon as possible.

 

How to Treat and Prevent Psoriasis:

Psoriasis affects 7.5 million people in the United States. It’s a common skin condition that rapidly speeds up the life cycle of skin cells, causing the cells to continue to build atop the surface of skin. Psoriasis is known as a chronic skin disease. While there are no known cures, you can learn how to manage your psoriasis through lifestyle changes and topical treatments. Before diving into possible treatments, it’s important that you receive a professional diagnosis from a dermatologist that can create a plan that will work best for your type of psoriasis and level of severity.

Before your appointment, here are some tips to manage your psoriasis in the meantime. Key lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy diet and committing to regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of a flare-up. Studies also show that getting outdoors and enjoying the sun could help control psoriasis as well. Since psoriasis is due to overactive white blood cells that accumulate and cause skin cells to overproduce, the UV rays that kill white blood cells may slow the growth. While this may aid inflammation and flaking, be mindful that sunburn could actually trigger psoriasis as well. So make sure to take the proper precautions and protect skin with a healthy dose of SPF!

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Consult a dermatologist like Dr. Robert Miller of Long Beach, CA for the skincare plan that’s best for you. Dr. Robert Miller has been recognized as a Top Doctor as verified by Findatopdoc.com and has been recognized as a Patient’s Choice award winner and one of the top Long Beach Dermatology practices as verified by Opencare.com. To make an appointment, click here.