Dealing with Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, and Dermatitis

Many of us suffer from skin rashes, bumps, redness, and itching. Each can appear as an intermittent skin symptom, or can point to a chronic issue that might be due to any number of factors, like diet, allergies, genetics, or environmental pollution. Sometimes, persistence of these sorts of irritated skin symptoms point to the presence of an underlying chronic condition: Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, or Dermatitis. But what are the differences between these skin issues, and how do you come up with a treatment plan that works for you?

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that you can ‘grow out of,’ ‘grow into,’ or simply experience via intermittent flare ups throughout your life. It’s an allergic reaction that produces extremely red, dry patches on different areas of your body. Other symptoms include cracking and flaking, extreme discoloration, scaling, and risk for infection. Eczema can be an extremely uncomfortable condition to deal with: it causes a great deal of itching, and subsequent skin damage that requires after-treatments. It’s usually triggered by exposure to allergens (chemicals in cosmetics, soaps and detergents are a common culprit), environmental factors like extreme temperature changes or low humidity, and even hormonal changes. For some, animal dander can be a trigger, so often pets will be a no-go for those suffering from eczema.

How can you ease its symptoms?

When it comes to soothing ingredients, try applying jojoba! Jojoba oil benefits range from itch relief to skin protection. With a chemical structure similar to that of your skin’s natural lipid barrier, jojoba oil is an incredible tonic that won’t disrupt the PH or lipid balance of those suffering from inflammatory conditions–and because of that its a favorite among those suffering from eczema. Finely ground organic oats is another popular natural vegan treatment for Eczema. Finely grinding oats in a food processor and adding them to a warm bath can help soften and calm inflamed skin. Post-bath, make sure you apply a heavy oil-based moisturizer like jojoba, coconut oil, or shea butter.

It’s recommend that you avoid taking ultra hot showers and to steer clear of any conventional cosmetics containing foaming detergents, any lab derived glycolic or salicylic acids, preservatives like methylparaben or butylparaben, and artificial fragrances.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis runs in families, and typically is something that you’ll have to deal with in cycles throughout your life. It differs from the other skin conditions we’re discussing here, because it’s related to your immune system: when you’re experiencing a Psoriasis outbreak, your skin is being treated like a foreign body. One of the main cell types used by the immune system, T cells, normally travel through the body and provide protection against invading germs and bacterial strains; if you suffer from Psoriasis, your T cells mis-label your healthy skin cells, and attack them. This results in patches of skin that are dry and covered in silvery scales, taking the form of slightly raised lesions typically on your elbows, knees, and lower back. Swollen joints are also a typical symptom.

Psoriasis patches are usually more raised and well defined than eczema patches, although the two can be hard to tell apart, so it’s important to check with a dermatologist. Psoriasis is triggered typically by a pre-existing infection–in fact strep throat infections can often lead to Psoriasis, and also certain medications, severely dry skin, and periods of high stress.

How can you ease its symptoms?

To take a plant-based approach to soothing Psoriasis, try first dabbing a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar and H20 to active lesions, in order to disinfect and take down itching. Next apply turmeric, another plant-based allstar renowned for its anti-inflammatory benefits and antioxidant properties. Turmeric's healing ingredient, circumin, is effectively able to help relieve Psoriasis symptoms when applied topically with jojoba oil in a soothing paste, which will improve redness, skin thickening, and scaling.

If you’re suffering from Psoriasis, unlike with Eczema and related conditions, applying slightly acidic ingredients can be OK, even healing for your skin condition. What you should avoid are sulfates, which can irritate open skin and strip moisture, and chemical laden anti-itch ingredients, which can cause clinical dryness and increased irritation.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common skin condition and can develop at any age (although it’s much more likely to occur in women than in men). Unlike Eczema, which can occur anywhere on the body, rosacea typically occurs on your cheeks and face. Symptoms occur when abnormalities in facial blood vessels cause flushing, hotness, persistent redness, and visible blood vessels. This redness is accompanied by tiny red bumps that cover the nose, cheeks and forehead, which can develop into a permanent thickening of the skin with a reddish hue. It can be distinguished from Eczema in that it doesn’t typically cause the extreme dryness and surface damage that eczema does. Damage caused by sun to elastic tissue in the skin can also trigger Rosacea, prompting the dilation of blood vessels and exacerbating symptoms in older skin types.

How can you ease its symptoms?

In order to treat this rosy rash naturally, the trick is to use ingredients that avert inflammation, particularly lavender oil for its ability to take down redness, and manuka honey to regulate the skin’s PH balance and bacterial composition, rendering it less vulnerable to irritation. Rosacea triggers include external stressors such as UV light, alcohol, spicy foods, stress, and exposure to extreme environmental conditions. Any of these external factors can cause a disturbance to certain molecules in the skin called peptides, which in turn can affect the blood vessels in the skin.

Avoid hot water and saunas, and make sure you are religiously applying sunscreen in hot climates. As with eczema, it’s important to nix any skin products containing alcohol or synthetic astringents, and any facial product that causes redness or stinging (so any conventional peel).

What is Dermatitis?

Dermatitis is similar to eczema but there are several strains with slight nuances. The term ‘Contact Dermatitis’ refers to eczema-like symptoms that occur when your skin is exposed to an outside irritant, like bleach, soap, artificial fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, or petroleum. Symptoms include a red rash, burning and stinging, and sometimes blisters. Dermatitis can also take the form of ‘Seborrheic dermatitis,’ a skin condition that affects areas with greater oil production, hair follicles, and open pores.

How can you ease its symptoms?

Triggers for dermatitis include long hot showers, extreme weather, and irritating facial practices like intense exfoliation or chemical-laden peel treatments. Instead opt for soothing ingredients that lead with moisture: jojoba oil for benefits like anti-flaking and moisture retention, calendula flower extract (for healthier blood circulation, hydration, and anti-inflammation) and evening primrose oil, which contains omega-6 fatty acids and gamma-linolenic acid, which play a role in preventing inflammation in the body.

The takeaway? When you’re treating any of the above skin conditions, make sure you’re taking it easy with alcohol, protecting your skin from any extreme environmental stressors, and staying aware of any food or contact allergies you might have. And most importantly, steer clear of detergents, artificial fragrances, and harsh retinols.