The Difference Between Acne, Eczema, and Psoriasis

Whenever we wake up and see that there is redness and inflammation on the face, we are alarmed by what could have possibly caused it and what we can do to immediately get rid of it. Some of us are guilty of using do-it-yourself treatments right away while others would jump into applying topical solutions on the affected area. Little do some of us know that these skin conditions vary although they look and feel the same and because they are different from each other, treatment should be noted to be as dissimilar, as well.

There are 3 most common skin disorders that plague everyone today. These are acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Although these are not fatal, they can undoubtedly affect a person’s life. Someone with a severe case of acne may find his or herself having trouble making friends in fear of being laughed at. People with eczema might also feel isolation due to other’s reaction. While those with psoriasis might be bothered with the excessive itching that it has become a hindrance to their everyday lives and function.

If you are confused or unfamiliar with acne, eczema, and psoriasis, let us help you by defining these skin diseases and providing a solution (as much as possible) to each one.

Acne

Acne happens when the pores of the skin becomes clogged with sebum and keratin. You may be wondering what sebum and keratin is. Sebum is an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. When there is an uncontrolled buildup in these glands plus an increase in the production of sebum, the follicles become congested and cause the growth of the acne bacteria (known as Propionibacterium Acnes). This process results to inflammation.

Keratin, on the other hand is a kind of protein that rounds up dead skin cells, joins them together, and deliberately blocks the pores. You may have probably heard of Keratin as a good agent when it comes to hair. While this is true, Keratin’s ability as a good adhesive and bonding substance in the body proposes harm to the skin. When it glues together dead skin cells into the pores, trapping more and more sebum through time, acne surfaces.

The swelling caused by sebum and keratin exhausts the barrier that protects the skin, making the pore prone to other bacteria. Contamination to such worsens existing inflammation and also yields pus.

This skin disorder can affect people from all walks of life, regardless of age. It is a common misconception that acne only happens between prepubescent years to your teens. Acne can happen to anyone who does not observe good overall hygiene.

Acne is also associated with depression and emotional trauma and can be a hit to someone’s confidence.

Severe acne can be treated by a dermatologist. However, as long as it is manageable, or also for preventive measures, here are some tips that you can be of good use:

1. Make it a habit to wash your face daily 

Eliminate excess oil and dirt from your skin. Do it by maintaining a clean skin through washing your face. It is preferred that you use a gentle cleanser and rinse it with warm water so the pores open up and cleaned well. CleaRx Exfoliating Cleanser will deliver you soft skin at the first instance of use. It also draws out toxins and exfoliates the skin which is a good combination if you want to say goodbye to acne.

 Remember to wash your face not more than twice daily. Excessive washing can dry up your skin and that can also cause breakouts!

2. Do not scrub your face too hard

A cleanser is enough to clean your face pimple-free. You do not need to use a washcloth or pads to aid in the rubbing. Your hands are the best tool for the job. Over-scrubbing your face can irritate your skin. When the skin is aggravated, chances are acne will worsen.

3. Stop popping your pimples

It has been a common bad habit to pop or prick pimples. Turns out there are many who are guilty of doing this. Popping or pricking pimples can cause the inflammation to worsen. It will also most definitely result to scars which are hard to get rid of. A topical treatment is suggested such as CleaRx Blemish Crème. It attacks the acne to its core, preventing it from multiplying!

4. Choose the right topical treatment

Some topical treatments may work while some may not. The key to getting your hands on an effective topical cream is always to consult your dermatologist. You can also try CleaRx Blemish Cream since proven and suggested by dematological experts. Better opt for a product with Benzoyl Peroxide because it reduces breakout! Good thing CleaRx has it!

5. Watch your diet

Food with high levels of carbohydrates can trigger acne. Although there are no established studies linking food with acne, eating these kinds of food does precede the growth of pimple. Dairy products can also cause acne because of the hormones used in cows to produce more milk.

Eczema

Eczema can be identified by inflamed, cracked, and rough patches of skin. It is, majority of the time scaly and itchy, and can be triggered by external factors such as pollen and smoke. Nuts and dairy can also cause symptoms to intensify. Most eczema cases develop before 5 years of age. Although eczema is not a curable condition, it is definitely NOT contagious.

In adults, the common signs of eczema are rashes that appear usually on the elbows, knees, or the nape, however, there are instances that it covers a big part of the body. At times, eczema can be severely itchy and does not go away. It can be because eczema causes the skin to dry abnormally. Since cracks and break happen more often than not, the skin is also prone to infections.

Since there is no proven treatment to eczema, here are some tips to ease the symptoms and improve lifestyle:

1. Take baths with lukewarm water

Cold water can strip your body’s natural moisture while warm water dries the skin. Lukewarm water relieves your skin from itchiness.

2. Apply moisturizer within 3 minutes after taking a bath everyday

Doing this locks the moisture in and helps ward off itching.

3. Gently pat the skin when drying

Rubbing the skin after taking a bath damages the skin and dehydrates it. Because of that, itching will happen and eczema might progress.

4. Use a humidifier

As soon as extreme weather conditions arise, a humidifier will aid in neutralizing your skin’s moisture.

5. Keep your fingernails short

Eczema is itchy and can seldom be controlled. To avoid breaking your skin and wounding yourself, it pays to cut your fingernails short.

To treat the symptoms of eczema, topical corticosteroids creams can help rid of inflammation and itchiness. If these are not working, one can opt to take systemic corticosteroid through doctor’s prescription. These are medicine that can be taken by mouth or injected.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition of the skin where the skin’s life cycle is accelerated. It is a chronic disease with no cure. Treatment is available though, however it is mainly focused in managing symptoms and delaying the aging process of the skin cells.

There are different types of psoriasis. Plague psoriasis is the most commonly recognize of them all. It is characterized by red skin lesions topped by silvery scales. This type of psoriasis can appear anywhere including the soft tissue inside of the mouth.

Since psoriasis has no cure, it is important for a person suffering from it to know what can trigger it. Stress and smoking are high contributing factor to psoriasis attacks. Heavy alcohol consumption can also worsen the symptoms. If you are diagnosed with psoriasis, it is important to also protect your skin from cuts and sunburn. .

People might think psoriasis is just a skin disease but it can actually cause complications and develop into the following:

1. Eye Conditions

Eye conditions such as uveitis and conjunctivitis are common to people suffering from psoriasis.

2. Obesity

Although unclear as to how psoriasis is connected to obesity, it was observed that people with this skin condition are most likely to be obese.

3. Metabolic Syndrome

Together with high blood pressure, high insulin, and abnormal cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome also is detected on people with psoriasis.

4. Parkinson’s Disease

It is observed through patients suffering from psoriasis that Parkinson’s Disease is most likely to happen to them.

5. Psychological Discomfort

Due to the appearance and manifestation of psoriasis, a person’s self-esteem is affected. This can further lead to depression and isolation if not guided accordingly.

Now that we have clearly identified and differentiated acne, eczema, and psoriasis, it is better for us to seek help in treating them or their symptoms. While it can be troublesome and socially awkward, we have to remain educated about our condition to avoid depression. Proper knowledge can help us greatly. It may not be totally towards healing but controlling symptoms and regulating our way of life.