How to help heal eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis

If your skin is red, itchy, and flaring, you are not alone. Dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis are often confused. This guide breaks down the differences and shares skin treatment strategies that support your skin barrier without harsh ingredients.

What's the difference between eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis, and how do you heal it?

There is no true cure for eczema or psoriasis but there are many treatments and products claiming to cure. Helping the affected skin heal is usually missing from prescription and steroid treatments, and can have a scary list of side effects.

Eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis are common especially in children and babies.

Most prescription or over the counter hydrocortisone creams and even steroid treatments unfortunately only address the active reaction flare up. These work by reducing the body’s inflammation/flare response to an irritant, or the body's overactive immune response. But once that’s addressed the skin is still damaged and irritated, inflamed. Scratching makes it much worse and can lead to infection.

Fix Your Sh*t Healing Balm works on supporting your skin barrier's healing process, protecting it from further damage and moisture loss, and it can soothe the itch immediately. Bonus: your little ones actually enjoy putting it on because it makes them feel better. Plus, the antibacterial properties help prevent infection that often occurs from scratching and bacteria getting into the open skin.

First, What Is Dermatitis?

Dermatitis is a broad term. It simply means inflamed skin.

Dermatitis can include:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Nummular dermatitis

The common thread is irritation, redness, itching, and inflammation. The cause varies. Triggers may include allergens, irritants, weather, stress, or immune response.

In other words, dermatitis is the umbrella. Eczema and other rashes fall under it.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatitis refers to inflammation of the skin caused by multiple factors, including irritants and immune activity. Dermatitis is a common word used to describe commonly irritated, inflamed skin caused by numerous conditions, and there are multiple different types to categorize these different causes. 

Eczema and psoriasis are similar in that they are thought to be potentially genetic, and occur from overactive immune responses (not exactly classified as an autoimmune disease, but similar). The rashes from both eczema and psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body and can look similar: red, swollen, irritated skin.

Eczema vs Psoriasis: Why They Look Similar

Eczema and psoriasis can both show up as:

• Red patches
• Dry, irritated skin
• Flaking or scaling
• Itching or burning

Both are linked to immune system overactivity. Stress can trigger flares for both skin conditions and make both eczema and psoriasis worse. So can cold weather and skin barrier damage.

But they are not the same condition.

Understanding the difference matters if you are searching for the right natural eczema treatment.

Psoriasis causes skin cells to over produce and pile up - creating thick scales or plaques of red, irritated, sometimes painful flaky skin. The scales can be red and white and pile up on top raising the skin surface. This commonly occurs on the scalp, around the head and neck including behind the ears, but can be anywhere. Cold, dry weather, skin injury, certain ingredients in skincare and fragrances, and stress can often worsen psoriasis. Some psoriasis sufferers report that heat (and anywhere there's trapped sweat) can trigger or worsen flares around the head as well. 

What Is Eczema?

Eczema most often refers to atopic dermatitis.

It is common. In fact, eczema is significantly more common than psoriasis. The National Eczema Association estimates that over 31 million Americans live with some form of eczema .

Eczema often:

• Starts in infancy or childhood
• Appears in skin folds
• Causes intense itching
• Looks red, inflamed, and dry
• Does not form thick, raised plaques

The skin barrier is usually compromised. That means moisture escapes easily. Irritants get in faster. The result is reactive, sensitive skin.

This is why barrier support is central to any eczema treatment plan.

Eczema is roughly 4x more common than psoriasis. Eczema typically appears first in babies and young children, and psoriasis tends to show up later. It can look similar to psoriasis with red, irritated, dry, inflamed skin but not the same piled up scales/skin plaques and lesions as psoriasis. 

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated condition. It causes skin cells to multiply too quickly.

Instead of shedding normally, cells pile up. This creates thick plaques.

Psoriasis often:

• Appears later in life
• Forms raised, silvery scales
• Shows sharply defined patches
• Occurs on elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back
• Can feel painful or tight

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases explains that psoriasis results from rapid skin cell growth driven by immune signaling.

Cold weather, stress, skin injury, and fragranced products can worsen flares.

If you or your babies have eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis I feel you. I suffer from psoriasis myself and my sweet little babe has eczema. I use Fix Your Sh*t Healing Balm on our family every day, and constantly in the dry winter to help soothe and heal our skin. This is why I created it, to help my family and yours. 

Key Differences: Eczema vs Psoriasis

If your skin has thick, stacked scales, psoriasis is more likely.

If it is intensely itchy, inflamed, and reactive, eczema is more likely.

Still unsure? A board-certified dermatologist can evaluate persistent rashes.

Why Barrier Damage Makes Everything Worse

Whether you are dealing with eczema or dermatitis, the skin barrier matters.

Your barrier is made of lipids and proteins. When it is disrupted:

• Moisture escapes
• Irritants penetrate
• Inflammation increases
• Flares last longer

A 2020 review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine highlights that barrier dysfunction plays a central role in atopic dermatitis .

That is where natural eczema treatment strategies focus.

Not on masking redness. On rebuilding function.

Natural Eczema Treatment: What Actually Helps

If you are ingredient-conscious, here is what to prioritize.

1. Eliminate Known Irritants

Avoid:

• Synthetic fragrance
• Harsh surfactants and ingredients like sulfates, sulfur, stripping acids
• Alcohol-heavy toners, and ANY products with drying alcohols 

Read labels. Less is more. Explore our full breakdown of the best ingredients in skincare for sensitive skin.

2. Support With Skin Healing Oils

Plant-based lipids can reinforce the barrier.

Look for:

• Pure, skin-loving oils rich in linoleic acid
• Anti-inflammatory botanicals
• Antioxidant-rich extracts

These can calm reactivity without suffocating the skin.

This is where truly clean eczema products stand out. They work with your biology instead of overriding it.

3. Use a Multi-Use Healing Balm

Dry patches. Cracked cuticles. Flaky elbows. Reactive cheeks.

Your skin does not need 12 products.

An occlusive balm packed with soothing, barrier-supporting ingredients can:

• Seal in hydration
• Protect against environmental stress
• Calm visible redness
• Reduce transepidermal water loss

Our cult favorite Fix Your Sh*t Healing Balm was created for barrier-compromised skin. It is packed with nutrient-dense oils and zero filler ingredients.

It is not a steroid. It is not a medicated cream. It is all natural eczema relief support for stressed-out skin.

4. Reduce Stress and Friction

Stress is a known trigger for both eczema and psoriasis.

Practical eczema relief tips:

• Gentle cleansing once daily
• Pat drying, never rubbing
• Humidifier use in winter
• Cotton fabrics over synthetics
• Mindful stress management

Your nervous system and your skin talk to each other. Treat both.

When to See a Doctor

Natural eczema treatment can support mild to moderate flares.

But seek medical care if you notice:

• Signs of infection
• Rapid spreading
• Severe pain
• Thick plaques that do not respond to care or get worse

Prescription therapies have their place. Clean skincare can complement them, not necessarily replace them.

The Bottom Line

Dermatitis is the umbrella. Eczema is common and barrier-driven. Psoriasis is plaque-forming and immune-mediated.

If your skin is reactive and dry, start with barrier repair.

Choose pure products that respect your biology and support skin health regardless of which skin condition or irritation you're experiencing. Focus on best ingredients in skincare, not hype.

Because irritated skin does not need more noise. It needs support.

Author Bio

Written by the creator of GingerGanics, April Young Monkarsh, formulator committed to clean, barrier-supportive skincare. Our approach centers on natural, skin-compatible ingredients and transparent education for sensitive skin.

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