There are two words you never want to hear come out of your dermatologist’s mouth. They are eczema and psoriasis. These two common skin disorders feature horrible itching and painful red rashes. Psoriasis tends to create a more scaly appearance to the skin than eczema, however neither one is a pleasant experience. Like many forms of dermatitis, the exact cause of these conditions isn’t known. For that reason it is difficult to actively avoid the appearance of either one. However there are a few things that tend to be common for psoriasis sufferers.

• heredity
• ethnic background
• gender

Very often the appearance of eczema and psoriasis can be explained by genetic coding. In other words, if one member of a family has one of these conditions, the odds are very good that at least one other member will suffer as well. It would be awesome to be able to say that scientists know why this happens, but so far, it remains one of those medical mysteries that they are still trying to unlock the door. Frequently checking for new information from the National Psoriasis Foundation is one way to stay current on the latest developments.

Another common thread among those affected by the skin disorders is ethnic background. Researchers also believe that climate and environment may have something to do with the appearance of eczema and psoriasis. People of color are less likely to be bothered by the symptoms and appearance of these skin conditions. It appears to primarily strike people of Caucasian descent. Another interesting tidbit is that people who live in tropical climates have a lower incidence of psoriasis cases as well.

It seems like Mother Nature just has an inclination to pick in women. Men can definitely be affected by eczema and psoriasis, but women report a higher rate of occurrence. Some researchers think this may be a hormone related disorder because of this. For people of either gender, psoriasis often begins in the adolescent years.