Psoriasis and eczema are not mutually exclusive diseases.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Williams
H C
HC
St. John's Institute of Dermatology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Strachan
D P
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004485:Eczema / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors