Psoriasis and eczema are not mutually exclusive diseases

Abstract

Background: Some reports have suggested that psoriasis and eczema are seldom found together. Knowledge of disease co-occurrence could lead to improved understanding of shared or opposing pathological mechanisms.

Objective: We sought to determine whether psoriasis and eczema could exist simultaneously and consecutively in the same individuals.

Methods: Skin examination data relating to 9,263 British children born during March 3rd to 9th, 1958 (the National Child Development Survey), were analysed for the co-occurrence of eczema and psoriasis.

Results: Of 354 children with visible eczema at the ages of 11 or 16 years, 5 (1.4%) were also noted to have visible psoriasis, compared to 89 (1.0%) of 8,909 children who did not have visible eczema at 11 or 16 years. The relative risk of psoriasis in a case of eczema was 1.41, 95% confidence intervals from 0.58 to 3.46.

Conclusion: Contrary to some hospital-based studies which have suggested that the two diseases are seldom found together, this study of a large and representative population suggests that eczema and psoriasis may co-occur concurrently and consecutively in the same individual.