Identifying The Symptoms of Psoriasis

Identifying the symptoms of psoriasis involves checking characteristic skin changes which in most cases have a preference for certain parts of the body. The usual symptoms of the condition include thickness of the skin, scaling, and redness. The condition does not only affect the skin but also the nails, scalp, and joints as well. Each type of psoriasis has their own symptoms.

Psoriasis vulgaris, or plaque-type psoriasis is the most common form of the condition. The three common symptoms of this condition include thickening, redness, and scales in the skin. The thickening of the skin usually ranges from barely perceptible to about several millimeters thick. Its color may range from being faint pink to deep beefy red.

For patients with darker skin, there may be reduced redness and greater darkening. Skin scales may vary from being non-existent to having the presence of thick oyster-shell like plates called ostraceous scales. When these scales are scraped or removed, a condition known as Auspitz’s sign can take place. The targeted areas may include the top of tiny capillaries which can result to vertical undulation all over the thickened skin.

Another common symptom of the condition is called the Koebner Phenomenon takes place when there is a new area of the condition developing in the injured skin. After undergoing surgery, the condition can develop around the scars brought about by surgery. The Koebner Phenomenon also provides an explanation why the condition takes place on areas where the trauma is consistently of low intensity, such as in the elbows and knees.

Aside from that, the Koebner Phenomenon can take place after non-traumatic skin injuries, such as sunburn or an allergies resulting from a medication. If the patient is suffering from dandruff o seborrheic dermatitis of the face or scalp, the condition has the tendency to superimpose itself as a result of irritation and scratching. It can also lead to the development of combination dermatitis called “sebopsoriasis.” However, the Koebner Phenomenon is not specific to psoriasis.

Guttate, Pustular, Erythrodermic psoriasis, the less common types of the condition, is considerably different from plaque psoriasis. The common symptom of guttate psoriasis includes tiny papules, which are lesions that can be felt and has a diameter of less than a centimeter and seems to be sprinkled all over the skin.

The pustular type takes place in smaller areas of the skin or in major parts of the body where innumerable tiny white pustules can be seen. The eythrodermic type involves reddening and presence of scales in the entire body. If this happens, skin biopsy may be required to separate the condition from other diseases involving reddening and scaling of the skin.

Plaque-type psoriasis usually takes place in certain parts of the body such as the scalp, knees, elbows, belly button, genitals, and buttocks. In the armpits as well as other damp areas of the body, such as the breasts or groin, the scales become wet and pasty. The lesions become moist and develop a red and raw appearance. On the scalp, a severe form of dandruff-like flaking and scaling is evident.

Identifying the symptoms of psoriasis plays a crucial role in determining diagnosis and treatment. People who suspect that they are suffering from psoriasis should immediately consult their doctor so proper treatment can be administered. Likewise, the symptoms can vary from one person to another.