Skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema can be physically uncomfortable. But they also come with a high mental toll when they’re difficult to hide. Fortunately, there are ways to live with these conditions, but you need to understand the difference between rosacea and psoriasis to ensure you’re following the proper regimen to ensure your skin is as healthy as possible.
Psoriasis is a condition in which the skin overproduces cells. Instead of the skin-production process taking weeks or even months, it takes just days. Those people with super-producing skin develop dry, red patches with the telltale silver “scales.” They may itch, and they’re not much fun to look at either. Those with psoriasis might also have crumbling or pitted nails. Occasionally, this condition can cause small red spots or painful pus-filled bumps. If you have psoriasis, you may develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
While rosacea also causes red skin, veins may also become more visibly pronounced. While many people only experience changes in their skin’s appearance, some with rosacea sometimes experience small red bumps on their skin. Rosacea can sometimes be confused with acne for this reason. For those with the more advanced cases of rosacea, their skin may thicken, pores may enlarge, and skin becomes oily. In the most extreme cases of rosacea, you may experience dry eyes that feel gritty and sensitive to light—or even develop cysts.
How Are Rosacea and Psoriasis Related?
Both of these skin conditions can impact your life for the worse, and neither can be completely cured. However, there are some treatment options to consider toward the end of this article. These conditions can come and go through your life. There are also genetic and are components to rosacea and psoriasis. However, psoriasis is an immune condition, while rosacea may result from bacterial or protein imbalances, mites on the skin, or an intestinal bug. Rosacea is not a type of psoriasis.
Psoriasis and rosacea both tend to become more intense or flareup in response to certain triggers. So reducing exposure to triggers can increase the frequency and intensity of flareups. However, these triggers differ for each skin condition. The most common psoriasis triggers are alcohol, cigarettes, stress, medication, skin wounds and trauma, and infections. Cold weather can also be a factor. While stress, cold temperatures, alcohol can also trigger rosacea, sunlight, wind, hairspray, heat, exercise, cosmetics, and spicy foods are unique to the rosacea condition.
Unfortunately, people with rosacea may notice that each flareup lasts a little longer than the previous one, which can make treatment more difficult. Rosacea is also most common in women, especially those who are going through menopause. This means you may have developed rosacea as you’ve gotten older, even if your skin wasn’t sensitive in the past.
Another difference between rosacea and psoriasis is the parts of the body most affected. Rosacea most often appears on the face and chest, while psoriasis is more common on the knees, elbows, genitals, scalp, and trunk of the body. The pus-filled bumps caused by psoriasis tend to appear on the palms and soles, not the face or chest. It may be easier to hide your psoriasis beneath clothing, depending on where the flareups most often occur, than it is to hide rosacea.
How To Sooth Psoriasis and Rosacea
Because psoriasis and rosacea have different causes, the conditions require different treatments (aside from reducing and coping with stress and limiting alcohol). Those suffering from extreme conditions can talk to their doctors about medication, including those with slightly lower immune responses, to provide relief from or even prevent flareups altogether. Light therapy may also improve both conditions. However, not everyone experiences intense or frequent psoriasis or rosacea flareups.
With psoriasis, the focus is often on exfoliating to remove the excess skin cells. Physical exfoliating is one option, while toning products such as Summer Laboratories’ Keralyt 5 Gel or Keralyt 5 Cream rely on salicylic acid as a chemical exfoliant to remove this skin buildup.
For rosacea, developing a skincare regimen for sensitive skin can help. These products have fewer irritating ingredients and include soothing ingredients such as aloe or witch hazel. Some products also contain antibacterial ingredients to minimize bad bacteria or probiotics to promote good bacteria on your skin. In addition, products designed to decrease pore size and oiliness may help with your skin’s appearance if you have rosacea. Protecting skin from the elements by using sunblock, moisturizer, and protective clothing such as a hat or scarf can also reduce the likelihood of a flareup.
When a flareup does happen, it’s important to soothe the skin. A cool mist or cooling eye mask can help. However, if blood vessels burst, they need time to heal. Even though there’s a difference between rosacea and psoriasis when it comes to symptoms, preventing flareups of either condition is better than trying to calm a flareup after it happens.
Shop Now For Better Skin
If you’re looking for relief from psoriasis, Summer Laboratories sells multiple products containing salicylic acid that help with this skin condition. Our products for oily skin may also help if you have rosacea. Check them out today!
Sources:
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriasis
https://medlineplus.gov/rosacea.html
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/rosacea/#inheritance
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rosacea#tab-risk