Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, also considered to be an immune-mediated disease. Which basically means that the immune system is acting abnormally. Psoriasis typically affects the skin, leading skin cells to build up faster than usual. It can also affect other organ systems, such as the joints. It causes your skin to develop scaly patches that can be itchy and painful. Psoriasis tends to be red or pink on people with fair or light skin tones, with a silvery-white scale. On medium skin tones, it can appear salmon-colored with a silvery-white scale. And on darker skin tones, the psoriasis could look brown, violet, or reddish brown often with greyish-colored or light-colored plaques. It is imperative to understand the different types of psoriasis and its treatment.
Knowing which kind of psoriasis you have will help you and your doctor to make a proper treatment plan. Usually, people have only one type at a time. But sometimes, after your symptoms are gone, a new form of psoriasis can crop up in response to any triggers.
Types of psoriasis and its treatment:
Plaque Psoriasis:
Plaque psoriasis, or psoriasis vulgaris, is the most common type of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis causes itchy, dry, raised skin patches (plaques) covered with scales. There may be many or few of them. They are characterised by thick red or purplish patches of skin, often with silvery-white or grey scales. These plaques can appear on any area of the skin, but the elbows, knees, trunk, scalp, and nails are the most common locations. There is also a flaky, white buildup on top of these plaques called scales. The plaques are usually 1 to 10 centimetres wide, but can also be larger and cover more of your body, and if you scratch at the scales, the symptoms can often get worse. Possible plaque psoriasis symptoms are skin pain, itching, and cracking.
Guttate Psoriasis:
Guttate psoriasis often starts in young adults and children. It causes small, pink-red spots on your skin. On darker skin tones, these spots can appear brown or violet. It’s the second most common type of psoriasis usually triggered by a bacterial infection such as strep throat. It often appears on the torso and limbs, but it can also appear on your face and scalp. These spots may not be as thick as plaque psoriasis, but they can develop into plaque psoriasis over time. Guttate psoriasis may go away within a few weeks, even without treatment. However, some cases can be more stubborn and require treatment.
Inverse Psoriasis:
Inverse psoriasis mostly affects the skinfolds, such as areas under the breasts or in the armpits or the groin. This type of psoriasis is red or purple and it causes smooth patches of inflamed skin that worsen with sweating and friction. The moisture and sweat from the skinfolds keep this form of psoriasis from shedding skin scales. Inverse psoriasis can be very uncomfortable and get triggered by fungal infections.
Pustular Psoriasis:
Pustular psoriasis, a rare type, develops quickly in the form of many white pustules surrounded by red or darkened skin. It causes clearly defined pus-filled blisters and can be severe at times. It can occur in isolated areas of your body, like your feet and hands, or cover most of the skin’s surface. However, if it affects your entire body it can be life threatening. Some people go through cyclic periods of pustules and remission. Pustular Psoriasis can also cause flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle weakness, and loss of appetite.
Nail Psoriasis:
Although not an official type of psoriasis, nail psoriasis is a result of psoriasis. Psoriasis can affect your toenails and fingernails, causing pitting, discoloration, and abnormal nail growth. At times the nails might also loosen and separate from the nail bed. Severe nail psoriasis can cause the nails to crumble, but some treatments can improve the health and appearance of the nails.
Treatment:
Luckily, there are many treatments available for psoriasis. Since psoriasis mainly affects the skin, some slow the growth of new skin cells, while others relieve itching and dry skin. Your doctor will select a treatment plan based on the size of your rash. Other factors are also included, such as where it is on your body, your age, and your overall health.
Most common treatments include:
- Moisturisers for dry skin
- Steroid creams
- Vitamin D-based cream or ointment
- Coal tar (available in lotions, creams, foams, shampoos, and bath solutions)
- Retinoid creams
There may be no cure for psoriasis, but treatment greatly reduces psoriasis symptoms. The physical effects of psoriasis can be frustrating, but the emotional effects are usually much worse. Support and care are needed in order to help people cope with the disease. That can only happen when we educate ourselves about the different types of psoriasis and its treatment.