Psoriasis and eczema are two fairly common skin conditions, and both cause symptoms like itching and visible inflammation.

That being said, the treatment options and long-term management of psoriasis and eczema are quite different.

So its important to know for sure which one you are dealing with.

Closeup of rash and scaling on the patient’s skin

When comparing psoriasis vs eczema, there are a few key differences to know.

Parks, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Columbus, Ohio, tells SELF.

SELF spoke with several board-certified dermatologists to lay out the difference between eczema and psoriasis.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects about 7.5 million Americans, according to theAmerican Academy of Dermatology.

It happens when your skin cells go through their life cycle more quickly than normal.

The buildup of new skin cells results in flaky scales on the skins surface.

These patches are prone to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

Why are eczema and psoriasis sometimes mistaken for each other?

But she notes that there are some exceptions.

Some cases are challenging because the eczema patches have become thickened enough to resemble psoriasis, she says.

Experts call this thickening lichenification.

Its tempting to think of eczema as psoriasis light, which will eventually worsen and become psoriasis.

But eczema will not develop into psoriasis.

They are two separate conditions, with separate underlying causes.

However, it is possible to have both eczemaandpsoriasis.

If you have darker skin, that redness might look more like brown or purple discoloration.

Research is still underway to understand how to best identify psoriasis in people with darker skin tones.

What is the age of onset for psoriasis vs. eczema?

One big difference between eczema and psoriasis is the age of diagnosis.

That doesnt really happen with psoriasis.

Usually, youll see eczema in the pediatric population, says Dr. Sadeghian.

That means that symptoms tend to first appear in two different decades of life.

The most common bang out of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, per theMayo Clinic.

Psoriasis and eczema may look different depending on what part of your body is affected.

What are the causes of psoriasis and eczema?

It tends to run in families, but there may not be straightforward patterns of inheritance.

Psoriasis can also occur at the site of skin trauma.

As the cut or scrape heals, psoriasis lesions develop.4This is called Koebners phenomenon, says Dr. Sadeghian.

People witheczema have certain genesthat are responsible for impairing the skins ability to act as a barrier to irritation.

Are psoriasis and eczema diagnosed differently?

Psoriasis and eczema are both diagnosed by a comprehensive examination from your dermatologist.

Theres no lab test necessary to diagnose either condition.

Eczema can typically be established with a simple visual assessment.

A psoriasis diagnosis could be slightly more involved.

This is to determine which jot down of psoriasis youre dealing with.

The result of this calculation is called your PASI Score.

Can stress trigger psoriasis and eczema?

Eczema and psoriasis have some similar triggers.

One trigger they both have in common?

If youre already predisposed genetically to develop a condition, then the stress can kind of unmask it.

If youve already been diagnosed, stress or infection can cause a flare, says Dr. Sadeghian.

When it comes to the research about stress and skin conditions, the results are mixed.

Dr. Wu says hes seen a number of patients who experience stress-related psoriasis or eczema flare-ups in his practice.

What are the treatments for psoriasis vs. eczema?