PSORIASIS: TYPES AND SYMPTOMS

Individuals with psoriasis experience symptoms such as itching, cracking, stinging, burning, or bleeding. Lack of sunlight and low indoor humidity in the winter months can cause the psoriasis symptoms to worsen. The skin is most likely to crack at the joints where the body bends, or in areas where the individual scratches. Scratching should be strictly avoided, because it can cause bleeding and infection. Psoriasis has also been known to cause pits or dents to form in fingernails and toenails. There is also the possibility that the soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia can be affected. In some cases, psoriasis will cause joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then improves. Conditions that may cause flare-ups include changes in climate, infections, stress, and dry skin. Also, certain medicines, most notably beta-blockers, which are used in the treatment of high blood pressure, and lithium or drugs used in the treatment of depression, may cause an outbreak or worsening of the disease

The Treatment of Psoriasis

In the treatment of psoriasis, it is important to treat psoriasis in as many ways as possible. Those who modify their lifestyles, eating habits and reduce their level of stress often experience a much greater degree of psoriasis cure. The most visible and distressing symptoms receive treatment, but more can be accomplished by treatment of the cause!

Erthrodermic Psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis appears on the skin as a widespread reddening and exfoliation of fine scales, often accompanied by severe itching and pain. Swelling may also develop. This is a rare condition in which the rash is spread over large sections of the body. The skin is very inflamed which affects its ability to function properly. It does not retain fluid as normal, which results in the patient feeling constantly thirsty and being dehydrated. It also impairs the skin's performance in maintaining body temperature control so the sufferer may lose heat more easily and be more susceptible to hypothermia. This is also a more serious form of the condition and one that needs expert medical management.Erythrodermic psoriasis is a particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects most of the body surface. It is the least common form of the disease. It most commonly appears on people who have unstable plaque psoriasis, where lesions are not clearly defined

Inverse Psoriasis

Inverse or Flexural psoriasis is localized in the flexural surfaces of the skin, e.g., armpit, groin, under the breast, and other skin folds. Typically, it appears as smooth inflamed lesions without scaling and is particularly subject to irritation due to rubbing and sweating. This type of psoriasis is often white in color, appears softened as if soaked by water, and may resemble a fungal infection. There is very little scaling, although the patches are inflamed and can be very sore. Appearing as it does in the folds of the skin, it is moister than other forms of psoriasis, and can be more uncomfortable physically. Flexural psoriasis rarely occurs by itself. It is more likely to accompany common plaque psoriasis. Psoriasis sufferers in their middle years or old age are more susceptible to this type of psoriasis as are people who are overweight and have more folds of skin.

For more information on the types of psoriasis visit :
http://www.internationaleczema-psoriasisfoundation.org/psoriasis.php4

Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small red dots (or drops) of psoriasis. Guttate is derived from the Latin word gutta meaning "drop." It often appears on the lower half of the body. The lesions may have some scale. Guttate psoriasis is many small patches of psoriasis, all over the body, and often happens after a throat infection. Guttate Psoriasis most often affects children and young adults. It appears as small, red bumps-the size of drops of water-on the skin. It usually appears suddenly, often several weeks after an infection such as strep throat. Antibiotics may be used to treat guttate psoriasis that is triggered by an infection. Guttate psoriasis usually responds to treatment and may gradually go away on its own. Many people who have an episode of guttate psoriasis may not have another one for many years.

What is Palmoplantar Psoriasis?

Psoriasis that affects the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet is called palmoplantar psoriasis. It may appear as chronic flaky patches that crack and bleed. The nails may be affected as well. In severe cases the condition can be disabling. Palmar-plantar psoriasis: Psoriasis of the palms, of the hands and the soles of the feet, characterized by erythema, thickening and peeling of the skin, blistering is often present. It may prevent patient from opening and closing hands thus leading to a disability. The palms and soles can also be affected by pustular psoriasis. In this condition small, deep, pus-filled blisters appear on the palms and soles. They may have a copper-colored hue on a background of red, flaky skin. This condition may also be called palmoplantar pustulosis or acropustulosis.Red, scaling plaques with small pustules that develop on the palms and the soles of the feet are called palmolatar psoriasis. The pustules are 1–10mm (pin- to dime-sized) in diameter and are often painful, interfering with daily functioning. It predominately affects women.This condition looks very different from common plaque psoriasis and flexural psoriasis, and usually only appears on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Instead of inflamed and scaly patches, there are weeping, cracked lesions that can look like masses of tiny yellow blisters. These can be quite painful and look infected, even though there is no infection present. Over a period of days, the pustules turn a brownish color and fall off, often only to be quickly replaced. The production of new pustules to replace the ones that have been shed can go on over a period of years. Psoriasis can affect the feet causing thick scaling and redness. The feet can occasionally be the only area to be affected by psoriasis with no rash elsewhere on the body. When psoriasis is found elsewhere on the body, the feet can also be the area involved with thick scaling, redness and sometimes pustules. The pustules are known as sterile pustules as they do not have infection within them.

Getting the Facts on Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 4.5 million people in the United States.

New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.

Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.

Psoriasis is not a contagious disease.

The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.

Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years.

Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.

Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.

Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition. It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.

Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal.

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque-type psoriasis is the most common form of the disease and is commonly referred to as psoriasis vulgaris (Camisa 56). Plaque-type psoriasis is characterized by inflamed skin lesions topped with silvery white scales. This type of psoriasis can assume many different appearances based on its location, the activity of the disease, and the treatment being administered. Plaque-type psoriasis is most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, sacrum, umbilicus, intergluteal cleft, and genitalia (Camisa 56).
Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small dot-like lesions. Guttate psoriasis is the most common cause of psoriasis in children and young adults who have a prior history of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis (Camisa 64). The lesions are not as scaly as plaque-type psoriasis and are likely to be found on the trunk and involve the face (Camisa 64).
Pustular psoriasis is characterized by pustules, which are blister-like lesions of non-infectious fluid, and cause intense scaling. Individuals with pustular psoriasis are often among the most seriously ill and may have to be hospitalized (Camisa 67).
Erythrodermic psoriasis is the rarest form of psoriasis and is characterized by intense redness and swelling, exfoliation of dead skin, and pain. Erythrodermic psoriasis usually develops during the course of chronic psoriasis. However, in some cases erythrodermic psoriasis is the first manifestation of psoriasis, even in children (Camisa 74). Individuals with this type of psoriasis may experience chills and low grade fever, and may be rather uncomfortable (Camisa 75).
Inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth inflamed lesions in the body folds -- armpits, under the breast, skin folds of the groin, buttocks, and genitals.
Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis are psoriatic lesions which appear at the site of injury, infection or other skin psoriasis, or may be a new lesion in an existing case.
The degree of psoriasis can also vary from individual to individual. It ranges in severity from mild (affects less than 2% of body) to moderate (affects 2-10% of body) to severe (affects greater than 10% of the body). Skin injury and irritation, sun exposure, diet, stress and anxiety, medications, and infections have been known to make psoriasis worse.

Treatment of Psoriasis

In the treatment of psoriasis, it is important to treat psoriasis in as many ways as possible. Those who modify their lifestyles, eating habits and reduce their level of stress often experience a much greater degree of psoriasis cure. The most visible and distressing symptoms receive treatment, but more can be accomplished by treatment of the cause! More inforamtion on treating the causes of psoriasis can be found at:
http://www.dermatitis-ltd.com/aboutpso.php3

Contributing to the Cause of Psoriasis Skin Conditions

One of the leading theories on the cause of psoriasis invloves the belief that a biochemical stimulus or event may trigger an abnormally high rate of skin growth causing the skin lesions (National Psoriasis Foundation). Heredity may also be a factor in the development of psoriasis. Individuals who have a family member with a severe case of psoriasis tend to experience early onset of the disease (Camisa 55). Recent research studies indicate that psoriasis may be a disorder of the immune system. The T cell, a white blood cell, normally works to fight off infection and disease. Scientists believe that having an abnormal immune system may cause abnormal activity by T cells in the skin. These abnormally active T cells cause skin inflammation and increased cell production. Diet and vitamin influences are thought to play a role in psoriasis development and progression (Kligman 729).
Because psoriasis is a lifelong condition, the levels of its severity and improvement can fluctuate over time. Psoriasis is not a contagious skin condition. An individual instead, has a genetic predisposition for psoriasis, which can be activated by certain environmental factors or emotional stress. Individuals with psoriasis may find that their condition tends to flare up due to stress, certain medications, winter weather, and infections (ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). Most often psoriasis affects the scalp, knees, elbows, hands, and feet (National Psoriasis Foundation).