An Overview of the Different Kinds of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic condition characterized by reddening and thickening of the skin. It affects 1% to 3% of the entire population. Here we will look at the five different types of psoriasis.

Plaque Psoriasis

This is the most common form of psoriasis. It is usually characterized by thickening and flaking of the skin on several areas of the body.  In some instances, the patches cover a large portion of the body. Although they can wax or wane, they have the tendency to be chronic.

This condition can take place in any area of the body. The most prone areas include the elbows, knees, knuckles, scalp, trunk, arms, legs, and external sex organs. Although not always itchy, it can lead to inflammation when scratched. This is called the Koebner Phenomenon.

Guttate Psoriasis

This is most common in children and young adults. They manifest themselves as small reddish bumps on the skin. Their appearance is sudden and last for several weeks after an infection.

If triggered by infections, antibiotics can be helpful in treating the guttate type of this condition. It usually responds to treatment and may gradually disappear by itself. If you have suffered from this condition, another episode is unlikely for years to come. In adults, the manifestation of small droplike bumps may mean that the disease is flaring up.

Specialized Types of Psoriasis

Seborrheic psoriasis is a condition affecting scalp. It is similar to severe dandruff. Thickening and flaking of the skin may protrude to the forehead just below the hairline. Scaling can become prevalent in the outer ear.

Psoriasis can also affect the connecting tissues of the nails. Pitting is an early manifestation of nail psoriasis, which can also take place in other diseases. Nail psoriasis involves the presence of dark spots similar to droplets of oil which can lead to flaking of the skin below the nails.
Palmoplantar psoriasis takes place in the palms of the hands as well as soles of the feet. Severe cases of this type can lead to disability.

Pustular psoriasis affects the palms and soles. It is characterized by small, deep pus-filled blisters as well as copper-colored hue with a shade of red, flaky skin. It is similar to acropustulosis or palmoplantar pustulosis.

Other Varieties

Erythroderma is a condition characterized by reddening, flaking, and thickening of the skin in most parts of the body. Erythrodermic psoriasis takes place when a person has a history of plaque psoriasis. It can also be a result of widespread eczema, skin reaction to drugs, or cutaneous lymphoma. It may be accompanied by fevers and chills and requires treatment in a hospital.

Pustular psoriasis is a rare and severe kind of the condition characterized by the formation of small, pus-filled blisters on the skin. It may require treatment in the hospital as patients fall ill from fevers and chills. Aside from that, it may require special therapies because traditional treatment approaches can easily irritate their skin. It can lead to disability when the condition extends to the palms and soles.

Inverse or flexural psoriasis usually affects the area of the body where there is skin folding such as the armpits, groin, and webs of the toes. It is often whitish in color and usually soft like a fungal infection.

Understanding the various kinds of psoriasis can be helpful in determining the method of treatment that will be used.