{"id":7384,"date":"2020-02-25T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T14:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7384"},"modified":"2025-02-13T18:22:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T23:22:02","slug":"psoriasis-vs-eczema-vs-dry-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/psoriasis-vs-eczema-vs-dry-skin\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it just dry skin? Or could it be eczema? Or psoriasis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your skin is dry, tight, and irritated\u2014perhaps with some red patches. It\u2019s probably just regular old dry skin. Or is it?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your skin could be affected by something else. After all, it\u2019s not uncommon for people to confuse dry skin with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of these mimic dry skin in certain ways, but there are ways to identify if you actually have one of these conditions,\u201d says <\/span>Todd Minars<\/span>, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you know the difference?<\/b><\/h2>\n

What could it be? Psoriasis vs. eczema? Psoriasis vs. dry skin? Eczema vs. dry skin? Learn how to recognize the differences between each condition so you can treat them appropriately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry skin<\/b><\/h3>\n

Dry skin feels tight or rough, or sometimes itchy and flaky. It might be red and cracked. Sometimes, the cracks will even bleed, which can put you at risk for infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Triggers: <\/b>When the temperature drops, your skin notices. Cold winter air (and the heat inside your house) tends to dry out most people\u2019s skin. Hot baths and showers along with harsh, drying soaps and skin products can have a very similar effect, according to <\/span>the Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Treatment:<\/b> You can typically treat most cases of dry skin at home. Apply a generous layer of a thick moisturizing lotion or cream frequently, especially after washing your hands or taking a shower.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eczema<\/b><\/h3>\n

Nearly 32 million people in the United States have eczema. About 18 million have the most common type of this skin condition, atopic dermatitis<\/span>,<\/span> according to the <\/span>National Eczema Association<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s more common in people with a family history of eczema. It typically develops in early childhood, and while some people \u201coutgrow\u201d their eczema, it can persist into adulthood. It causes a red, scaly rash, often on your legs and arms in places like the crooks of your knees and elbows. (It can also appear on your face.) Eczema is especially known for one defining characteristic: the itch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I see a rash that is not itchy, it is not eczema,\u201d says Cheryl Bayart, MD, a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Triggers<\/b>: The list of common triggers for eczema flare-ups typically includes:<\/span><\/p>\n