Almost all of us wish to have soft, beautiful skin throughout the year. Fortunately, there are hundreds of products easily available in stores which help us retain and maintain the health of our skin without much effort. However, this is a challenge for millions of Americans who suffer from skin conditions which require special attention and care. Of these skin conditions, two fairly common ones arepsoriasis and eczema.

Even though psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, it usually affects the thicker region of the skin. Outer portion of the elbows and knees, scalp, palms, and soles of the feet are some of the most common places where psoriasis may show up. The disease can cause itchiness and burning sensation and will appear as red patches of dry, flaky, silvery scales on the affected regions. This unpleasant look is caused by the rapid reproduction of skin cells which hinders the natural shedding of these cells. As a result, dead skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin causing irritation.

While we still don’t know what the true cause of psoriasis is, scientists have found a link between the disease and the immune system of the individuals who have it. Some external factors which might play a role in the development of psoriasis are stress, physical injuries, certain types of medications, and infections. For some people, it might seem as if the condition has gone away after some time, but that’s not the case. We need to be aware that psoriasis is a chronic condition which does not have a cure. So, it’s important to always take care of the affected regions, especially during the dry winter season.

Like psoriasis, eczema is also a non-contagious skin condition which does not have a cure. People who suffer from various types of eczema can’t transfer it to another person upon skin contact. Moreover, both of these conditions can affect an individual in varying degrees, from mild (which impacts only certain areas of the body) to severe (which can cover large portions of the body).

Though both of these skin conditions share many similarities, there are some distinct differences which might be helpful to know in order to find out whether you have psoriasis or eczema.

• Appearance: Eczema has a more blister-like appearance with potential to crack the skin and ooze whereas psoriasis shows up as red patches on the skin.
• Location: Unlike psoriasis which affects the thicker skin on our body, eczema tends to appear on the softer and thinner regions of the skin. Thus, you are more likely to see eczema on the inner portion of the knees and elbows, face, neck, wrists, and ankles.
• Age: Eczema is a lot more common in infants and young children. On the other hand, only a small percentage of people develop psoriasis before the age of ten.
• Treatments: Antihistamines are used specifically for eczema because they reduce inflammation of the skin which is one of the major symptoms of eczema. For psoriasis, vitamins which slow the growth of skin cells are used for treatments. However, both of them can also be treated with topical medication.

Psoriasis and eczema affect 7.5 million and 35 million Americans, respectively. No matter which of these skin conditions you might have, it is highly advisable that you visit your doctor or a dermatologist to get it examined. There might not be a cure for them yet, but they can be kept under control through proper and timely treatment. Dr. Marder’s Total Relief Shampoo and Conditioner are uniquely formualted to relieve and treat psoriasis and eczema.