Eczema Or Psoriasis

[237SJ]

I don`t know which it is (if either). I have dry, rough patches around the area of my inner upper arms. Some patches are the size of a 10p piece and some are smaller. It is also now in the area below the bra (where people have "back boobs". My work blouse and the dry atmosphere sets them off and then when I`m home, the itching eases off. 1% hydrocortisone takes the redness out and some of the itching but the rough patch is still there and soon flares up again. Last summer, the sunlight eased them but they came back again in the winter. I think it might be stress related. Anyway, is it worth going to the doctor? I have no idea what creams they can prescribe and won`t bother if they just tell me to keep on the the hydrocortisone.

[237SJ]

..could be dermatitis but I don`t think it`s contact dermatitis.

[Sqad]

Could be either.......Eczema or Psoriasis and you know that i am not very good on skins...but...I would go for Psoriasis as there is a causal link between that and stress ( more so than eczema).
Eczema and dermatitis are basically the same thing.
Psoriasis is difficult to treat and doesn't usually respond to steroid creams.

My advice.....if the steroid cream works...continue it but if it doesn't then see your GP.

[237SJ]

Thanks sqad. As it is in the shoulder area and I have had shoulder problems, I did wonder if it was psoriatic arthritis. Do you think there could be a link? I have never had psoriasis (or any skin problems) or arthritis before but the frozen shoulder and the rash did start at about the same time.

[ummmm]

237, I suffered very badly with psoriasis for years and it is stress related, not just casually related. In my experience though it isn't very itchy.

[237SJ]

ummmm - I was in a hotel room the other day and they had a trouser press with a long handled clothes brush. Beds/ rooms that are hot set off the itching really bad. I got the clothes brush and scrubbed away like there was no tomorrow. It was bliss! I know you shouldn`t do that but it`s like scratching a mosquito bite - once you start, you can`t stop.

[ummmm]

Do the red patches develop scaly skin? Which psoriasis does.

[237SJ]

No they don`t. Not all psoriasis does though.

[EcclesCake]

Is there any family history of psoriasis?

Aquamax is available from chemists and will sooth the itching be it psoriasis or eczema.

Ultimately I would suggest a visit to the GP as the treatments for the two conditions are different.

[237SJ]

No, no family history at all.

[EcclesCake]

I meant to add that I have never experienced a geographical link with psoratic arthritis and psoriasis.

I'm fairly sure shoulders are not one of the most typical joints to be affected by PA either.

[EcclesCake]

If you are not creating scales then I would be surprised if it is psoriasis. The two most common forms are Guttate and plaque, they do form scaly patches.

[jno]

stress can trigger psoriasis, I think - you've been through a hard time recently; might there be a connection?