Millions of people suffer from psoriasis. It causes inflammation and unsightly skin patches that can lead to emotional, mental, and physical problems.
This article explains how psoriasis develops and lists the symptoms, helping readers understand common triggers, how to avoid them, and what treatments are available.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin disease manifested as thick patches of dry, itchy, and scaly skin. It can cause discomfort, pain, and lack of sleep. It can also create inflammation in the body, potentially leading to arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.
It usually appears in cycles. Patients may have flare-ups for weeks or months and then enjoy a period without symptoms.
Psoriasis can’t be cured, but different treatments help relieve symptoms.
Types of Psoriasis
Medical providers differentiate between several types of psoriasis depending on the body area they affect. They include:
Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. It is named after the raised, scaly patches of affected skin, called plaque. They cause itchiness and discomfort, vary in color, and typically appear on the scalp, elbows, lower back, and knees.
Pustular psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is rarer and usually affects the palms and soles. It produces puss-filled bumps called pustules. Sometimes, it affects a larger body area.
Guttate Psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis is more commonly present in children and young adults, appearing after a strep throat infection. Patients develop numerous little pink-red spots all over the torso, arms, and legs.
Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis affects skin folds, such as those beneath the breasts, under the arms, and in the groin and buttocks. The affected skin is smooth, red, and itchy, and sweating often exacerbates symptoms.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis
This is the rarest and most severe type of psoriasis, characterized by widespread coverage of the body and causing red, burning, and peeling skin. It often develops when another type of psoriasis isn’t properly managed.
Nail Psoriasis
Nail psoriasis affects both toenails and fingernails, causing discoloration (yellow or brown), thickening, pitting, separation from the nail bed, and crumbling.
Note: Learn more about eczema, an inflammatory skin disease sometimes mistaken for psoriasis.
Psoriasis Symptoms
Itchy, scaly skin patches are the main symptoms of psoriasis. They vary in color, shape, and the number of scales. The affected skin is:
- Pink, red, or purple
- With gray or whitish scales
- Surrounded by painful, red skin
- Raised and thick
- Filled with puss
- Dry and cracked, easily bleeding
- Tender, itchy, or burning
Other symptoms include:
- Painful joints (arthritis)
- Severe dandruff
- Yellow, thickening, loose, or crumbling nails
- Sleep problems
Psoriasis Causes
Psoriasis is caused by a malfunctioning immune system, which mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, perceiving them as a health threat. This accelerates skin cell growth and shedding, resulting in itchy, scaly patches. A combination of genetics and environmental factors usually triggers this immune response, but the exact causes still remain unclear to scientists.
Common psoriasis triggers include:
- Cold, dry weather
- Intense sun exposure and sunburn
- Skin injury (cut, insect bite)
- Skin infection, usually from Streptococcus bacteria
- Nicotine smoke
- Alcohol consumption
- Certain medications for the heart, mental health, or malaria
- Obesity
- Severe stress
Psoriasis Risk Factors
Some factors make certain people more prone to developing psoriasis. They include:
- Family history – Patients whose parents, siblings, or other close relatives have psoriasis are more likely to develop the skin condition.
- Smoking – Patients who smoke are more at risk of getting psoriasis or exacerbating the condition.
Who Gets Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is more common among adults than children. Any adult can get psoriasis, regardless of sex, race, and ethnicity. Patients with family members who have psoriasis are more likely to have it as well.
Where Is Psoriasis Most Likely to Appear?
Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, and the patches can be small or affect large areas. The most common type, plaque psoriasis, most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. The face, hands, soles, torso, skin folds, nails, and genitals can also be affected.
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?
A medical professional – usually a dermatologist – examines the patient’s skin, scalp, and nails to diagnose the condition. They ask the patient questions about the symptoms, their overall health, family members’ health, and if they experienced any of the common psoriasis triggers. Doctors may also take a small sample of the affected skin and perform a biopsy to rule out other skin conditions and determine the psoriasis type.
Is Psoriasis Contagious?
Psoriasis is not contagious. The patient cannot infect the people they touch. However, psoriasis can spread from one affected area. This happens if the patient is exposed to more triggers or they don’t manage the symptoms adequately.
Note: Learn how to treat dry skin to soothe inflammation and manage psoriasis symptoms.
Psoriasis Treatment
There is no cure for psoriasis. The available treatments help manage symptoms and, in some cases, they don’t reappear for years. Doctors prescribe a combination of treatments depending on the severity, frequency, and location of symptoms, and how well the patient responds to medication.
Topical Treatments
Topical treatments involve using prescription or over-the-counter creams, gels, and ointments. These products typically treat mild to moderate psoriasis and include:
Corticosteroids
Prescription medications in cream, gel, oil, ointment, foam, spray, or shampoo form. They mitigate redness, itching, and scaling. Medical providers prescribe different strength corticosteroids for different body areas and symptom severity. Patients must follow instructions closely to avoid side effects, such as thinning skin, spider veins, and acne breakouts.
Vitamin D
Creams with vitamin D slow down skin cell turnover and inhibit proinflammatory cytokines, which are found in increased levels in psoriatic patients. Topical vitamin D can be used as a standalone treatment or combined with corticosteroids.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid softens the skin and helps alleviate scaling, itching, and redness. Shampoos and scalp products formulated with salicylic acid effectively reduce scaling on the scalp. Doctors often prescribe salicylic acid with other topical remedies because its exfoliating properties enhance the absorption of other helpful ingredients.
Retinoids
Retinoid creams are effective at managing psoriasis symptoms. They slow down skin cell turnover and reduce associated symptoms – skin thickening, redness, swelling, and scaling. Side effects include skin irritation and sensitivity to the sun.
Note: Learn about retinol creams and serums and how they help improve the skin.
Coal tar
Coal tar reduces inflammation, itching, and scaling. It is beneficial in the treatment of palms, soles, and scalp. It is safe to use long-term but leaves stains on the clothing and has a strong odor.
Anthralin
Another tar product, anthralin, slows skin cell growth and reduces scaling. Creams with this ingredient may permanently stain fabrics, so patients should wear gloves when using them.
Calcineurin inhibitors
They are suitable for sensitive areas, such as around the eyes, on thin skin, and in the genital area. They act on the immune system, reducing inflammation and other symptoms.
Moisturizers
Psoriasis patients are encouraged to increase the use of moisturizers to relieve dryness and reduce flaking. They should use them several times daily, especially after bathing, when the skin is damp.
Oral Medications and Injections
Doctors prescribe oral drugs and injections to patients with more severe symptoms, who need a systemic, body-wide treatment – usually after first-line topical treatments don’t help. These medications modulate the immune system and significantly improve the symptoms. They include:
- Steroid injections
- Retinoid pills (e.g., Acitretin)
- Biologics (usually in the form of injections)
- Methotrexate
- Cyclosporine
- Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors
- Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitors
Some of these drugs increase the risk of more serious side effects and are not recommended for long-term use and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Phototherapy
Phototherapy or light therapy is an effective treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. It involves using ultraviolet light to decrease inflammation, slow skin cell turnover, and clear the complexion.
Light treatments include:
Narrowband UVB Light
This is the most effective light treatment for psoriasis. A light lamp or bulb sends waves of ultraviolet B light to the skin to ease the condition. It can be used on small, localized areas or the entire body. Narrowband UVB therapy is safer and more effective than broadband UVB. It requires fewer visits and produces longer remission periods.
Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A (PUVA)
PUVA combines a UVA light device with a photosensitizing drug called psoralen. The medication is taken prior to light exposure to increase the therapy’s effectiveness and calm flare-ups. This treatment is typically used for more severe conditions.
Blue Light
Blue light uses an LED device to send low-level, blue light waves into the skin, helping to mitigate inflammation and soothe the affected skin. Blue light is typically used for milder psoriasis cases.
At-Home Light Therapy
Doctors sometimes prescribe at-home light devices to help patients keep psoriasis under control. Patients use the devices occasionally to prevent or reduce flare-ups. These treatments are typically recommended for smaller, localized patches.
Self-Care Measures
Self-care is crucial in managing psoriasis. Patients who learn to avoid environmental and internal triggers and adequately treat their skin are more likely to experience fewer and less severe symptoms.
Self-care measures include:
- Daily baths – Take daily baths using lukewarm water and mild, oil-based soaps. Apart from the bath’s soothing effects, it helps maintain clean skin, reducing the risk of infections.
- Moisturizing – Use rich moisturizing creams and lotions daily to keep the skin well hydrated and reduce scaling.
- Natural sunlight – Expose your skin to natural sunlight when the sun is not too hot to improve vitamin D levels and immune response.
- Avoiding common triggers – Learning what activates symptoms and avoiding triggers is the key to managing the disease effectively.
- Limiting stress – Stress can make psoriasis symptoms worse. Employ stress-relieving strategies, such as yoga, meditation, daily walks, and other relaxing activities.
- No scratching – Refrain from scratching itchy skin; it will worsen the condition and may cause bleeding and infection. Use lotions and medications to relieve itchiness.
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol – Nicotine smoke and alcohol are common psoriasis triggers. Try to limit or avoid them completely.
- Healthy weight – Excess weight exacerbates psoriasis symptoms. Maintaining optimal weight helps reduce flare-ups.
How Long Does Psoriasis Last?
Psoriasis is a long-term, often life-long condition. Remission periods vary depending on the condition’s severity and how well the patient manages it. Flare-ups can last from several weeks to several months, while remission periods may last for years with proper therapy and self-care.
What Happens if You Don’t Treat Psoriasis?
Untreated psoriasis can lead to severe health problems. They include bleeding and infection, permanent joint deformities, fatty liver, kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and blindness.
Visit your healthcare provider if you suspect you have psoriasis. Follow their treatment recommendations to minimize the risk of more severe diseases.
Conclusion
Psoriasis affects a large population worldwide. It doesn’t have a cure but managing symptoms is essential for overall health. Various products and treatments are available to accommodate all types of psoriasis and improve the patient’s everyday life.
Our medical professionals at Vibrant Skin Bar have years of experience treating skin inflammation and related disorders. They will help you choose a treatment plan best suited for your condition.
