Psoriasis vs Skin Cancer: What Are the Differences?

psoriasis vs skin cancer

The difference in psoriasis vs skin cancer is that psoriasis is a skin disease that results in itching, general discomfort, and unattractive skin texture while skin cancer is a much more serious cellular disease that can pose a very real risk to the individual. In all honesty there’s really not much that would prompt a comparison between the two, as even the symptoms that indicate psoriasis are very different from the ones that may indicate skin cancer. The difference between psoriasis and skin cancer is an entire one.

However, for anyone looking to be clearer on psoriasis vs skin cancer then we’ll go into this topic in greater detail here. The most basic distinction that needs to be made is that part of what we talked about above, but to explain further it’s that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin exclusively and is never fatal. Cancer, on the other hand, is a much more serious disease that stems from abnormal cell growth.

Skin cancer is only one of the many different types of cancer, and that the skin is affected is the only real shared similarity between psoriasis vs skin cancer. Skin cancer – like all cancers – is a MUCH more serious disease as any type of cancer can spread (metastasize) into other areas of the body from its original source point.

This is why it’s important to catch skin cancer as early as possible, while diagnosing psoriasis isn’t as urgent a matter. That’s not to say it’s not important, but that leads us to our other major distinction here – psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that sufferers will need to manage for the rest of their lives. Cancer, on the other hand, CAN be cure but again it’s so important to detect cancer and begin treatment as soon as possible.

Difference Between Psoriasis and Skin Cancer

Let’s start this section by looking at both skin conditions in greater detail. Psoriasis occurs when skin cells multiply 10 times faster than normal and causes it to build up into bumpy red patches covered with white scales. As we touched on above, the cause of psoriasis is found in the immune system malfunctioning, but it can also be triggered or made worse by:

Strep infections
Trauma to the skin
Emotional stress
Use of certain medications, with beta-blocker blood medications and anti-malarial meds like hydroxychloroquine

It’s important to keep in mind again that while there is no cure for psoriasis and it’s certainly unpleasant, this condition is not going to endanger your life. The risk of mortality has to be the primary consideration when looking at psoriasis vs skin cancer. Psoriasis may be a big-time and ongoing nuisance for you, but it’s not going to a be a life-threatening development like skin cancer can be if it’s not detected early enough.

For psoriasis, one of the best products you can use is Epilyt Lotion (Propylene Glycol-Glycerin)

The Much Bigger Deal – Skin Cancer

The first thing to say about skin cancer in our discussion of psoriasis vs skin cancer is that many people who develop any type of cancer do so because they have a genetic predisposition for it. This means that cancer very much ‘runs in the family’, as the expression goes, and that if someone in your family has had it it’s quite likely you’re at greater risk of it yourself.

With skin cancer, however, there are environmental risks that factor in much more pronouncedly than with other cancers. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and there’s no other one that’s exposed to the elements in the same way. And as far as those elements are concerned, it’s direct sunlight that is particularly hard on the skin and may cause skin cancer if it’s exposed to too much of it.

We won’t go on about that part of it at length, but using a quality sunscreen like Shiseido Suncare on exposed skin when it directly sunlight for prolonged periods of time is always a good idea.

The other important part of evaluating psoriasis vs skin cancer is to say this; while psoriasis presents itchy and scaly rashes on the skin that are impossible to ignore and strongly suggest something is not right with the health of the skin, skin cancer signs can be more easily missed or dismissed.

So even the risk of missing an opportunity to diagnose and treat psoriasis is MUCH more unlikely, it’s unfortunate that missing the opportunity to diagnose and treat skin cancer is much MORE likely. Ideally it would be the other way around, as undetected and untreated skin cancer may lead to a person’s life being in danger.

That’s where we will conclude our comparison of psoriasis vs skin cancer.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.

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