What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder where rapid skin cell reproduction results in raised, red and scaly patches of skin. It is not contagious. It most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear anywhere on the body.

Anyone can have psoriasis. About 7.5 million people in the U.S. are affected, and it occurs equally in men and women. Psoriasis can occur at any age but is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 25. It is more frequent in Caucasians.

Psoriasis is a non-curable, chronic skin condition and there will be periods where the condition will improve, and other times it will worsen. The symptoms can range from mild, small, faint dry skin patches where a person may not suspect they have a skin condition to severe psoriasis where a person's entire body may be nearly covered with thick, red, scaly skin plaques.

The cause of psoriasis is unknown but a number of risk factors are suspected. There seems to be a genetic predisposition to inheriting the illness, as psoriasis is often found in family members. Environmental factors may play a part in conjunction with the immune system. The triggers for psoriasis what causes certain people to develop it remain unknown.

Psoriasis usually appears as red or pink plaques of raised, thick, scaly skin. However it can also appear as small flat bumps, or large thick plaques, ,. It most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear anywhere on the body. The following slides will review some of the different types of psoriasis.

The most common form of psoriasis that affects about 80% of all sufferers is psoriasis vulgaris ("vulgaris" means common). It is also referred to as plaque psoriasis because of the well-defined areas of raised red skin that characterize this form. These raised red plaques have a flaky, silver-white buildup on top called scale, made up of dead skin cells. The scale loosens and sheds frequently.

Psoriasis that has small, salmon-pink colored drops on the skin is guttate psoriasis, affecting about 10% of people with psoriasis. There is usually a fine silver-white buildup (scale) on the drop-like lesion that is finer than the scale in plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis if commonly triggered by a streptococcal (bacterial) infection. About two to three weeks following a bout of strep throat, a person's lesions may erupt. This outbreak can go away and may never recur.

Inverse psoriasis (also called intertriginous psoriasis) appears as very red lesions in body skin folds, most commonly under the breasts, in the armpits, near the genitals, under the buttocks, or in abdominal folds. Sweat and skin rubbing together irritate these inflamed areas.

Pustular psoriasis consists of well-defined, white pustules on the skin. These are filled with pus that is non-infectious. The skin around the bumps is reddish and large portions of the skin may redden as well. It can follow a cycle of redness of the skin, followed by pustules and scaling.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis that is extremely inflammatory and can affect most of the body's surface causing the skin to become bright red. It appears as a red, peeling rash that often itches or burns.

Psoriasis commonly occurs on the scalp, which may cause fine, scaly skin or heavily crusted plaque areas. This plaque may flake or peel off in clumps. Scalp psoriasis may resemble seborrheic dermatitis, but in that condition the scales are greasy.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) accompanied by inflammation of the skin (psoriasis). Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body's defenses attack the joints of the body causing inflammation and pain. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops about 5 to 12 years after psoriasis begins and about 5-10% of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.

In some cases, psoriasis may involve only the fingernails and toenails, though more commonly nail symptoms will accompany psoriasis and arthritis symptoms. The appearance of the nails may be altered and affected nails may have small pinpoint pits or large yellow-colored separations on the nail plate called "oil spots." Nail psoriasis can be hard to treat but may respond to medications taken for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Treatments include topical steroids applied to the cuticle, steroid injections at the cuticle, or oral medications.

Right now there is no cure for psoriasis. The disease can go into remission where there are no symptoms or signs present. Current research is underway for better treatments and a possible cure.

Psoriasis is not contagious even with skin-to-skin contact. You cannot catch it from touching someone who has it, nor can you pass it on to anyone else if you have it.

Psoriasis can be passed on from parents to children, as there is a genetic component to the disease. Psoriasis tends to run in families and often this family history is helpful in making a diagnosis.

There are several types of doctors who may treat psoriasis. Dermatologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis. Rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of joint disorders, including psoriatic arthritis. Family physicians, internal medicine physicians, rheumatologists, dermatologists, and other medical doctors may all be involved in the care and treatment of patients with psoriasis.

There are some home remedies that may help minimize outbreaks or reduce symptoms of psoriasis:

The first line of treatment for psoriasis includes topical medications applied to the skin. The main topical treatments are corticosteroids (cortisone creams, gels, liquids, sprays, or ointments), vitamin D-3 derivatives, coal tar, anthralin, or retinoids. These drugs may lose potency over time so often they are rotated or combined. Ask you doctor before combining medications, as some drugs should not be combined.

Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun slows the production of skin cells and reduces inflammation and can help reduce psoriasis symptoms in some people and artificial light therapy may be used for other people. Sunlamps and tanning booths are not proper substitutes for medical light sources. There are two main forms of light therapy:

If topical treatment and phototherapy have been tried and have failed, medical treatment for psoriasis includes systemic drugs taken either orally or by injection. Drugs including methotrexate, adalimumab (Humira), ustekinumab (Stelara), secukinumab (Cosentyx), ixekizumab (Taltz), and infliximab (Remicade) block inflammation to help slow skin cell growth. Systemic drugs may be recommended for people with psoriasis that is disabling in any physical, psychological, social, or economic way.

The prognosis for patients with psoriasis is good. Though the condition is chronic and is not curable, it can be controlled effectively in many cases. Studies for future treatments look promising and research to find ways to battle psoriasis is ongoing.

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Types of Psoriasis: Medical Pictures and Treatments