Eczema & Psoriasis - Part 1
Eczema & Psoriasis Explained
These red, itchy rashes are often mistaken for each other and sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. They have very similar triggers but are unique in their own way.
Eczema –
Eczema is an inflammatory condition that’s also called “atopic dermatitis”. This technical work simply means inflammation on the skin caused by an allergy.
Atopic = allergy, derma = skin, -itis = inflammation
This allergy can come from the outside (I get a breakout my histamine is high and if my skin touches anything made from nickel). Or, from the inside like a food sensitivity or high histamine levels…more on that soon.
Eczema can start quietly but can quickly turn into a chronic condition, that itchy, flakey skin just won’t go away. It can even crack and bleed with the gentlest touch. Arg!!
This can start as a baby or you can develop it anytime, and it can run in families. It’s also pretty darn common in this world, so if you’re suffering from eczema, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a sign of an internal imbalance and that’s what we’re going to tackle in this masterclass.
Psoriasis –
Some call it an inflammatory skin disease and others say it’s an autoimmune disease, but like eczema, it stems from an over-stimulated immune system. But, it has less of an allergy component to it.
In psoriasis, your skin overproduces skin cells, which creates the thick, crusty, plaque-like rashes. It can also be very stubborn and often lasts a lifetime, whereas sometimes eczema only lasts one flare up.
Skin normally turns over about once a month, but with psoriasis, skin turns over much faster and builds up on the skin, creating the unique psoriasis rash.
And, sometimes, psoriasis can result in psoriatic arthritis, which is a painful joint condition (which can be hard to get diagnosed properly…).
Symptoms of psoriasis are more varied than eczema, they include:
plaques of red skin, sometimes also covered with a crust of scales that tend to be silver or white
loose skin or lesions that can be sensitive, itchy, and painful
dandruff on the scalp
cracked, discolored skin that easily bleeds and bruises
discoloration in the finger and toenails or growth of toenail fungus
nails that detach from the nail beds and can be painful or bloody
Psoriasis is most common on the elbows, legs, and lower back, with the scalp being the #1 spot. 50% of psoriasis patients have some psoriasis on their scalp
Please note -
These skin conditions have many similar triggers and for the most part, I’m going to lump them together. But, if something is unique for eczema or psoriasis, I’ll be sure to let you know :)
And, for the sake of simplicity (and because both eczema and psoriasis are a finger twister to type), I’m going to call them E&P throughout this masterclass.
Seriously…try typing eczema and psoriasis. Is it just me or is it hard on the fingers???
What are some causes of Eczema and Psoriasis (E&P)?
Underneath both of these conditions is an overstimulated and overwhelmed immune system. Click here to pop over to last month’s masterclass to learn more about an overwhelmed immune system.
https://www.yourbeautifullife.ca/masterclasses-all/month-45-part-1
And, there are a few factors that point this overwhelmed immune system at the skin, and we’re going to talk about just that in this section :). One of the reasons it affects the skin may be due to “leaky skin”.
What is “Leaky Skin”?
Leaky skin is a way of describing broken spots in the skin barrier, like we use the term “leaky gut” to talk about broken spots in the intestinal barrier.
The skin is your largest organ and protects your body from outside assaults. And…there are some chemicals in our day to day life that can break down this important very important barrier. Allergens, pollutants, and microbes can enter your body if your skin’s barrier isn’t intact.
The outermost layer of our skin (the epidermis) is made up of 4 layers to protect us. There’s the basal layer, the spinous layer, the grandular layer, and the stratum corneum. These layers are held together by tight junctions, just like in the intestines.
Research is beginning to show that damage to the epidermis increases your risk of eczema and psoriasis. There’s also evidence that having a leaky gut increases your risk too.
What causes Leaky Skin?
Many beauty products contain a form of formaldehyde, which can damage the skin. It’s found in hair care products, hair dye, nail polish, and many others.
You’ll find formaldehyde in the ingredient list as: DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quaternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is another culprit and it’s added to products to make them bubble. It’s found in shampoo, hand soap, and even toothpaste. This chemical can weaken your skin’s barrier, so look for “SLS-free” options when looking for things that bubble.
A possible cause of leaky skin is hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). It may weaken your skin’s barriers. Early animal research has found this is a possible cause of leaky skin.
What triggers Eczema and Psoriasis? (E&P)
Your skin may be susceptible to a flare up due to those irritants, but you need something to trigger a flare up. In my experience I’ve noticed that E&P have a few common triggers (you may have one or a few of these):
Food sensitivities (you’re eating something that triggers inflammation in you)
Inflammatory foods, like sugar (foods that trigger inflammation in everyone)
Irritation of the skin, like an irritating detergent, cream, or metal (like nickel)
High histamine in the body
Stress
I’ve noticed that stress is the most common addition to an eczema response. I’ve had clients who could eat anything they want on vacation and had no eczema issues, but then they come home and back to their stressful jobs & non-allergen diet and their eczema will flare up. Stress is a key factor for many…and be kind to yourself because it’s often something we can’t control.
It can take some trial and error to find your triggers, so some patience is needed. We’ll also look at topical helpers that can reduce the itching, cracking, and bleeding.
Lifestyle Triggers
Sometimes we unintentionally irritate our skin throughout our daily life. Here are a few things that can irritate the skin and make it more prone to a flare up.
Dry skin
Eczema sufferers also tend to have very dry skin. This is a sign the natural oil barrier on your skin is weak and that allows the skin to be much more sensitive to irritation. You may have noticed this yourself, your skin is more prone to an eczema breakout when it gets very dry. Keeping it happily hydrated can make a but difference :)
Handwashing, Hot Showers, and Hot Tubs
Three years inside a global pandemic has really taught us one thing – wash your hands a lot! But, that’s particularly tricky if you have eczema on your hands. Hot showers and hot tubs can also dry out your skin and make it worse.
Antibacterial soaps and soap with SLS will exacerbate the problem, so as much as you can, avoid those. It’s partially the chlorine in your shower and hot tub that dries out your skin, so getting a chlorine filter for your shower is really helpful (I got a water softener/chlorine filter on Amazon for about $35). Rinsing off after a dip in your hot tub can also help and take shorter, cooler showers.
About 10 years ago I lived in a condo building that had a hot tub that was open year-round. I LOVED hopping in it on a cold day and even ran for it after a few polar bear swims (it was also lakefront, so it was a short run).
I noticed that every time I enjoyed myself in the hot tub my finger would develop a super itchy spot of eczema. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. My solution at the time was to bathe in the glorious hot tub, but I kept my hand out (which was a tad difficult). I wish I had thought of just having a quick shower afterward, I bet it would have helped a lot :)
Scented Laundry Detergent and other strong fragrances
I really REALLY dislike scented laundry detergent, it’s pretty much my biggest pet peeve. The chemically laden scent sticks to clothes and I come home smelling of it when visiting friends. Ugggg. That (annoying to me) scent is a major skin irritant and it sticks to the skin for hours/days.
Unscented or naturally scented (using essential oils) laundry detergents can make a big difference for your skin and they’re easy to find. I’ve been having a love affair with laundry strips while living in the RV (no space for a big bottle), but every type of option is available (liquid, powder, strips).
How do you know if something is scented with essential oils vs a chemically created scent? Easy – chemically-created scents stick around for a very long time, but essential oils don’t. If your lotion or detergent continues to waft scent after a few hours, then it’s definitely a scent to avoid.
Sleep
Your skin cells regenerate the most while you’re sleeping, so prioritizing sleep when you’re in the midst of a flare up can really help. Check out our Sleep masterclass if you need some help catching some Zzzzzzs.
https://www.yourbeautifullife.ca/masterclasses-all/month-4-intro
Stress…yes, stress affects your skin a lot
As I’ve already mentioned, I’ve seen this with my own eyes. Stress increases symptoms.
And, the research agrees. Stress increases inflammation and it can also make the itchiness worse (like that’s what we need when stressed, more itch!).
But, it’s not the only trigger. I’ve noticed that it makes things worse but doesn’t create symptoms on its own. Once you know your trigger, then your stress reaction won’t affect your skin as much :)
What about topical corticosteroids and
other conventional treatments?
There are a few people on TikTok who are sharing their journey of recovery from chronic topical steroid treatment. They’re worth checking out if you’re on TikTok, their experience is intense.
Topical corticosteroids work by suppressing the immune response that triggered eczema. They do this through our stress response – corticosteroids and cortisol are similar (cortisol’s inactive form is actually cortisone). This will give you relief and can be helpful at times. For some, it breaks the outbreak cycle and you can get relief for months or even years.
And, they weaken your skin’s barrier, making it more susceptible to future flare ups…which when treated with corticosteroids can prolong the cycle of flare ups.
Think of them as a treatment, not a cure. Use them when you feel they’re necessary while being aware of the potential side effects. Sometimes, they’re worth their weight in gold when a flare up is extra irritating. I’ve used them myself in this regard, while also looking at natural ways to stop the cycle from the inside :)
Now that you know a bit more about E&P, let’s look at how to heal it :)
Got any questions or comments? Jump to our private Facebook Group or the Ask Lisa page :)