Psoriasis is a skin condition that creates red patches of skin with white, flaky scales. It most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees, and trunk, but it can appear anywhere on the body. The first episode usually strikes between the ages of 15 and 35. Most people with this condition will see a psoriasis dermatologist at some point.
This is a chronic condition that cycles through flare-ups and remission periods throughout a patient’s life. The condition affects as many as 7.5 million people in the United States. About 20,000 children under age 10 have been diagnosed with psoriasis. People who have psoriasis are at greater risk for contracting other health problems, such as heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and diabetes. This condition has also been linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, depression, obesity, and other immune-related conditions.
Symptoms and Causes
In normative bodies, skin cells live for about 28 days and then are shed from their outermost layer. With psoriasis, the immune system sends a faulty signal to these cells, speeding up the skin growth cycle. Rather than taking nearly one month to mature, skin cells complete their growth in a matter of 3 to 6 days. The pace is so rapid that the body is unable to shed the dead cells, and patches of raised red skin covered by scaly, white flakes form.
Psoriasis triggers are specific to each person. Some common triggers include stress, injury to the skin, medication allergies, diet, and weather.
Types of Psoriasis
There are five distinct types of psoriasis, each with its own set of symptoms and treatment options.
- Plaque Psoriasis (Psoriasis Vulgaris). About 80% of all psoriasis sufferers get this form of the condition. It is typically found on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. It appears as inflamed, red lesions covered by silvery-white scales.
- Guttate Psoriasis.This form of psoriasis appears as small, red, dot-like spots, usually on the trunk or limbs. It occurs most frequently among children and young adults. Guttate psoriasis comes on suddenly, often in response to some other health problem or environmental trigger, such as strep throat, tonsillitis, stress, or injury to the skin.
- Inverse Psoriasis. This type of psoriasis appears as bright-red lesions that are smooth and shiny. It is usually found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in skin folds around the genitals and buttocks.
- Pustular Psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis looks like white blisters filled with pus and surrounded by red skin. It can appear in a limited area of the skin or all over the body. Triggers for pustular psoriasis include overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, irritating topical treatments, stress, infections, and sudden withdrawal from systemic (treating the whole body) medications.
- Erythrodermic Psoriasis. One of the most inflamed forms of psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis looks like fiery, red skin covering large areas of the body that shed in white sheets instead of flakes. This form of psoriasis is usually very itchy and may cause some pain. Triggers for erythrodermic psoriasis include severe sunburn, infection, pneumonia, medications, or abrupt withdrawal from systemic psoriasis treatment.
Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis is a genetic disease (it runs in families), but it is not contagious. There is no known cure or method of prevention. As a result, treatment aims to minimize the symptoms and speed healing. The type of treatment recommended by a psoriasis dermatologist will depend on the severity of the condition. Psoriasis is classified as Mild to Moderate when it covers 3% to 10% of the body, and Moderate to Severe when it covers more than 10% of the body.
- Mild to Moderate Psoriasis Treatment – Mild to moderate psoriasis can generally be treated at home using a combination of three key strategies: over-the-counter medications, prescription topical treatments, and light therapy/phototherapy. Popular over-the-counter psoriasis treatments include scale lifters, which loosen and remove scales, bath solutions, anti-itch creams, and moisturizers. Prescription topical treatments, like Anthralin, Calcipotriene, and Calcitriol, may also be used.
- Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Treatment – Treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis include prescription medications, biologics, and light therapy/phototherapy. Oral medications, like acitretin, cyclosporine, and methotrexate, can combat psoriasis symptoms, and phototherapy has been shown to help some forms of the condition. Biologics designed to suppress the immune system have also greatly improved symptoms under the guidance of psoriasis dermatologist.
Visiting a Psoriasis Dermatologist
Psoriasis is not a dangerous condition, but it can be extremely difficult to live with. Visiting a dermatologist is the best way to get the personalized treatment you need to alleviate symptoms. If you’re interested in learning about how psoriasis treatment can improve your life, make an appointment at our Mt. Vernon office. Our doctors are uniquely equipped to walk you through your options.