| Psoriasis
in Children (part 2)
What
Else Can Look Like Psoriasis in Children?
Several other conditions can resemble
psoriasis in children, and might be mistaken for psoriasis. |
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Pityriasis Rosea
Pityriasis rosea is a skin rash
that occurs most
commonly in people aged 10 to 35.
Pityriasis rosea can follow
a cold (upper
respiratory infection), much like guttate
psoriasis, and may
be confused with this type of psoriasis.
The condition may begin as
a single, large,
scaling, pink patch (1 cm, flat) on
the chest
or back.
About a week or two later, multiple,
flat,
scaling, pink-red patches occur on the
chest,
back, upper
arms and legs.
The face and scalp are seldom
involved,
whereas in psoriasis the scalp is frequently
involved.
The rash usually fades over
about eight
weeks.
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Seborrheic
Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a
common skin disorder that is red, scaly and occasionally
itchy.
Scaling of the scalp appears
yellow and is greasy in texture.
It most commonly involves the
scalp, sides of the nose, eyebrows, eyelids and middle
of the chest.
It occurs most frequently in
infancy when it is known as "cradle cap."
Cradle cap usually clears
between one to two years of age.
In some infants, seborrheic
dermatitis may occur in the diaper area, where it may
be confused with
other types of diaper rashes, including
psoriasis (napkin psoriasis).
Atopic
Dermatitis/Eczema
Eczema is a common chronic
and recurring inflammation of the skin.
About 90 percent of eczema cases
begin in childhood, usually before the age of five.
In contrast,
psoriasis tends to occur in older
children and adults, and usually develops between the
ages of 15
and 35.
Scaling in atopic dermatitis
is usually mild. Scaling in psoriasis can be severe.
Asthma and hay fever can occur
with eczema.
Eczema affects approximately
10 to 20 percent of children.
Eczema is very itchy and is
often known as the "itch that rashes."
The skin in eczema appears red
and cracked (fissures), and it is often difficult to
see a clear line
between involved and uninvolved skin.
In psoriasis, the skin is red, thick, with silvery-white
scales
and, less commonly, forms cracks
(fissures). It is easy to see a clear line between involved
and
uninvolved skin.
Children with eczema are prone
to skin infections such as viral infections (warts,
cold sore infection)
and bacterial infections of the skin
with yellow crusting.
Eczema tends to present with
different patterns (areas of involvement on the body)
than psoriasis.
In babies and infants, eczema involves
the face and neck. In children and adolescents, the
inner
crease of the arm, behind the knees
and the face are sites that are frequently involved.
Psoriasis tends to involve areas
of the body that are the opposite of eczema: the elbows,
front of
the knees and the scalp, and often
spares the face.
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Top of page Psoriasis in Children 2
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