Early-Stage Beginning of Psoriasis: Symptoms and Types – Greatist

Symptoms can start at any age, but the first signs of psoriasis often occur between the ages of 15 and 25, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

When psoriasis first appears, you start to notice symptoms of inflammation on your skin. This can include:

As the condition progresses, symptoms can start to worsen or become more noticeable.

Symptoms can vary based on the type of psoriasis (well get to the seven main subtypes in a sec), the amount of psoriasis, and the area thats affected.

While psoriasis can show up anywhere on your body. It most commonly develops on your:

The features, feels, and early symptoms of psoriasis might often depend on what type you have.

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type, affecting 80 to 90 percent of people with the condition.

This form of psoriasis usually first appears as thick, raised patches of skin aka plaques. These plaques can be red, purple, or silver and often vary in size. Over time, they may start to feel dry and scaly, which can cause them to itch like crazy.

Guttate psoriasis appears as tiny bumps that may pop up suddenly on your skin. These bumps, or spots, are usually red or pink and have a scaly texture.

Guttate psoriasis often begins to show up on your arms, legs, or torso, but the condition can develop in other areas.

Guttate spots are known to clear up on their own and sometimes never make a return appearance. No one really knows why this happens, making guttate psoriasis one of the more mysterious psoriasis types.

While other forms of psoriasis are raised and rough to the touch, inverse psoriasis causes flat, raw-looking rashes in folds of the skin. These reddish or purple rashes are usually smooth to the touch, but that doesnt make them any less uncomfortable.

Inverse psoriasis usually develops in areas where skin is constantly rubbing on skin (like the armpits, under boob area, and even the genitals). This can cause increasing levels of soreness or discomfort over time especially when sweat gets trapped in these folds.

When it comes to pustular psoriasis, youll usually see puss-filled bumps often appearing on your hands and feet. These small, inflamed bumps can typically be confused for acne when they first appear.

But youll def be able to tell the difference as the condition progresses. The skin underneath the pus-filled bumps will become red and swollen. The area can also become itchy and sore.

As the bumps dry out, theyre usually replaced with scaly, brown dots.

If you start to experience symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis, call the doctor STAT.

This rare, severe form of psoriasis can cause large chunks of skin to shed, leading to debilitating pain. It can also cause an elevated heart rate, dehydration, fever, chills, and muscle weakness. Erythrodermic psoriasis can also lead to hypothermia, making it difficult to stay warm.

Erythrodermic psoriasis spreads fast, causing visible inflammation in nearly 90 percent of your body. This condition can resemble a burn at first, with the skin becoming red, dry, and tender to the touch. You may experience intense itching as the rash spreads.

Most cases of erythrodermic psoriasis occur in people who already have another form of psoriasis. Talk with your dermatologist ASAP if you notice your condition becoming worse or not responding to treatment, as this condition can be life threatening.

Nail psoriasis affects well, your nails (obvi). Nail psoriasis is pretty common, impacting about 50 percent of people who already have another type of psoriasis.

At first, you may notice discoloration of your nails (usually yellow, white, or brownish hues), as well as pitting in your nails themselves. As the condition develops, larger dents in the nail may form, and the nail may become rough and crumbly.

Skin cells can also build up underneath your nails, causing the nail to lift and detach from the skin of your finger or toe.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) gets under your skin literally. This subtype affects the joints and most often occurs in people who already have psoriasis. It can develop at any age, most commonly appearing between ages 30 and 50.

Early signs of PsA can include swollen or tender joints, swelling on the knee or back of the leg, and pain on or around your heel. You may also notice stiffness, specifically in the mornings (because getting out of a cozy bed isnt hard enough sometimes!).

Its important to seek treatment for PsA. Ignoring the condition might lead to difficulty moving and even physical disability.

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Early-Stage Beginning of Psoriasis: Symptoms and Types - Greatist