The symptoms may not warrant much attention when they cause minor discomfort.
Still,rosacea,psoriasis, andeczematend to be chronic conditions, even if they’re rarely life-threatening.
Read on to learn how to distinguish psoriasis from eczema or rosacea.
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Psoriasis vs. Eczema vs. Rosacea
Psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea can look alike.
But, there are some ways to tell them apart.
Rosacea
Rosacea is more common among fair-skinned people ages 30 to 50 years.
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In addition, the symptoms of rosacea typically follow a pattern.
Rosacea can even extend to include the eyes, ears, chest, and back.
However, with rosacea, no blackheads appear.
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The absence of blackheads can help distinguish rosacea from acne.
Over time, the facial blood vessels can become enlarged and make the redness more visible.
Left untreated, this may lead to problems with vision.
Rhinophyma tends to strike men who have had rosacea for years and may become disfiguring enough to require surgery.
Bacterial infection or the presence of mites commonly affecting humans may play a role.
Lastly, blood pressure medications likebeta-blockersand Catapres (clonidine) are sometimes helpful in reducing flushing associated with rosacea.
Psoriasis
Autoimmune disease is the root cause of psoriasis.
That means yourimmune systemtreats your skin like a foreign invader, attacking and damaging it.
Psoriasis can develop at any age, even during childhood.
However, it tends to run in families and waxes and wanes in severity over a lifetime.
It can occur anywhere on the skin but usuallyaffects the elbows, knees, and scalp.
The areas where plaques form can be itchy and tender.
Plaque psoriasis can also affect the scalp, causing it to become very scaly, resembling dandruff.
Other forms of psoriasis have notable features:
Some people develop a form of arthritis calledpsoriatic arthritis.
A few classic symptoms include prolonged morning stiffness, fatigue, and sausage-shaped fingers and toes (calleddactylitis).
However, it usually begins before age 5 and affects about 13% of children in the United States.
Eczema tends to run in families, especially in those prone to allergies and asthma.
About half of children diagnosed with eczema also will develop allergic asthma or hay fever.
Affected areas may become cracked, discolored, blistered, crusty, or scaly and may weep clear fluid.
People with eczema are at increased risk of developing skin infections, especially withStaphylococcus aureus.
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