There are a number of different types of psoriasis, which can vary in their severity, location on the body, and physical appearance.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, there are many treatments available that can help.<\/p>\n
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to form too quickly.<\/p>\n
Because these grow faster than the body can shed existing skin cells, thick, scaly patches form.<\/p>\n
On lighter skin tones, this condition usually appears as pink or red patches with silvery-white scales.<\/p>\n
On darker skin, psoriasis is more likely to appear as purple patches with gray scales or as a dark brown color.<\/p>\n
Types of the condition include:<\/p>\n
People with this condition may initially only develop one type, but can develop another type at a later point in time.<\/p>\n
While a persons symptoms will vary with the type they have, most people will experience some combination of:<\/p>\n
This means that they may increase in intensity at certain periods and lessen at others.<\/p>\n
People refer to these periods of heightened symptoms as flares.<\/p>\n
Flares can vary in severity and duration.<\/p>\n
This type, also known as psoriasis vulgaris, causes areas of plaque buildup on the skin and is the most common form of condition.<\/p>\n
Around 80-90% of people with this condition develop plaque psoriasis.<\/p>\n
Plaque is a thickened area of skin.<\/p>\n
On lighter skin types, it often has a white or silvery, scaled appearance, and on darker skin types it may appear as purple patches with gray scales.<\/p>\n
Plaque psoriasis tends to be mild to moderate but can be severe.<\/p>\n
Typically, mild plaque psoriasis covers less than 3% of the body, moderate plaque psoriasis 3-10%, and severe cases cover 10% or more.<\/p>\n
These symptoms can include:<\/p>\n
Areas of plaque may appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the knees and elbows.<\/p>\n
Treatment of mild or moderate type will vary depending on a persons individual symptoms.<\/p>\n
However, treatment will typically include the application of topical ointments to affected areas, and in some cases exposing the skin to ultraviolet light.<\/p>\n
This type typically occurs on a persons scalp.<\/p>\n
However, it can also appear on the forehead, back of the head, down the neck, and behind the ears.<\/p>\n
This is common among people with psoriasis.<\/p>\n
A person with scalp psoriasis can have other types on other parts of their body at the same time.<\/p>\n
Treatment often involves more than one method at a time.<\/p>\n
As with plaque psoriasis, a doctor will tailor a treatment program to a patients needs.<\/p>\n
Treatment options include:<\/p>\n
Learn more about the best shampoos for psoriasis here.<\/p>\n
Guttate is characterized by red, purple, or dark dots and spots spread throughout the skin.<\/p>\n
The dots and spots are not as thick as plaques in plaque psoriasis.<\/p>\n
This type often starts in childhood or young adulthood and appears after an infection.<\/p>\n
This type typically causes spots to appear on the legs, arm, and torso.<\/p>\n
However, these may also appear on the face, scalp, and ears.<\/p>\n
In severe cases, there may be hundreds of these spots, and they may cover the majority of an affected area.<\/p>\n
Doctors will typically recommend topical creams and ointments as the first step for treating guttate psoriasis.<\/p>\n
These treatments may help reduce swelling and alleviate itching.<\/p>\n
As the condition can appear following infections such as strep throat, a doctor may recommend antibiotics to treat the infection alongside addressing the psoriasis symptoms.<\/p>\n
In some cases, they may also suggest a patient undergo light therapy.<\/p>\n
This type appears as patches of discoloration that are most often found in the folds of the skin, such as in the armpits and groin.<\/p>\n
People with the inverse type often have other forms of psoriasis elsewhere on their bodies.<\/p>\n
On white skin, this condition presents as bright red or pink marks.<\/p>\n
On black or brown skin it may appear as red, purple, or darker than the surrounding area.<\/p>\n
Areas of the body that are most likely to be affected include:<\/p>\n
The areas of the body that are most often affected by inverse psoriasis tend to have thinner skin than other areas.<\/p>\n
This can make treating this type more difficult.<\/p>\n
A doctor will typically recommend topical steroid ointments to reduce inflammation.<\/p>\n
As skin folds are common sites of yeast infection, they may also suggest a person take anti-yeast and anti-fungal treatments as well.<\/p>\n
This is a severe, rare type of psoriasis.<\/p>\n
It causes widespread inflammation of the skin and white or yellow blisters that contain pus.<\/p>\n
Pustular psoriasis blisters can be limited to one area of the body or appear more generally.<\/p>\n
Once the blisters have gone away, the skin may become scaly.<\/p>\n
A person may also experience:<\/p>\n
A specific kind of this type called palmoplantar pustulosis causes blisters to form on the palms and soles of the feet.<\/p>\n
These blisters form in a studded pattern.<\/p>\n
Over time, the blisters turn brown and become crusty.<\/p>\n
Due to the rarity of the condition, there is a lack of evidence-based treatment guidelines.<\/p>\n
As a result, medical professionals may recommend a combination of topical ointments, oral medications, and therapies.<\/p>\n
They may also cycle between medications and therapies to find the most effective option and reduce the risk of side effects.<\/p>\n
A person with mild pustular psoriasis may be able to treat the condition with prescription topical ointments.<\/p>\n
However, those with more extensive symptoms may require hospital treatment.<\/p>\n
While most forms of psoriasis tend to be mild or moderate, erythrodermic psoriasis is severe and can be a life-threatening medical emergency.<\/p>\n
This type covers 80-90% of the body.<\/p>\n
It causes an extremely painful, peeling rash that looks like a burn.<\/p>\n
Unlike symptoms of the types of mild type, symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis tend to be serious.<\/p>\n
They may include:<\/p>\n
People who have this type are prone to infection.<\/p>\n
They may also experience other serious problems, including heart failure and pneumonia.<\/p>\n
People with this condition are often hospitalized and may require emergency treatment.<\/p>\n
This may include fluid replacement and systemic medications, which affect the whole body.<\/p>\n
Depending on the severity of the condition, a medical professional may recommend oral retinoids, which are medicines derived from Vitamin A that can slow skin cell growth and reduce swelling, and immunosuppressive drugs, which reduce the bodys immune system response.<\/p>\n
Biologic therapy is also a potential course of treatment.<\/p>\n
Biologics target cytokines, which are signaling molecules that assist in the movement of cells to sites of inflammation.<\/p>\n
By suppressing or inhibiting these signals, biologics can reduce the severity of inflammation.<\/p>\n
In mild cases, focused treatment for the symptoms may include topical steroid creams and ointments, wet dressings, and oatmeal baths.<\/p>\n
Most types of ps. tend to be of mild to moderate severity.<\/p>\n
This exception is erythrodermic ps., which can be a life-threatening medical emergency.<\/p>\n
However, if a person has moderate to severe symptoms a doctor may prescribe new biologic therapies.<\/p>\n
These can help treat the underlying cause of skin changes and may reduce the number of flares and severity of symptoms.<\/p>\n
People who suspect that they have p. should consult their doctor before beginning treatment.<\/p>\n
People with symptoms of erythrodermic ps. should seek immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n
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