Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Psoriasis is a non-contagious , autoimmune disease. Characteristic look of psoriasis is red patches on skin that is accompanied by silvery-white scales of dead skin cells.Psoriasis typically occurs on the knee, elbows, and scalp, and it can also affect the torso, palms, and soles of the feet.
Let’s discuss different types of psoriasis:
PLAQUE PSORIASIS:
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis presents itself as raised, inflamed, red skin covered by silvery white scales. Patient may experience itching or burning sensation. Plaque psoriasis can appear in any part of body but it commonly appears on elbow, knees, scalp or lower back.
Plaque psoriasis affects the finger and toe nails that resemble fungal infection.
Avoid picking and rubbing off the scales.
GUTTATE PSORIASIS:
Word Guttate is derived from Latin word gutta; that means drop. Guttate psoriasis presents itself as small pink drops on skin. These drop like lesions are covered with fine scales. Eruptions start appearing on trunk, arms or legs and may spread to ears, face or scalp. Scratching and vigorous rubbing should be avoided.
Guttate psoriasis is triggered by streptococcal bacterial infection.
Triggering factors of guttate psoriasis include the following:
• Streptococcal infection in the form of tonsillo-pharyngitis.
• Viral infection such as rubella, chickenpox and roseola.
Diagnosis of Guttate psoriasis is done by looking at the characteristic appearance of the skin.
INVERSE PSORIASIS:
Inverse psoriasis looks like bright-red smooth shiny lesions. Inverse psoriasis commonly appears in folds of skin like armpits, groin, under the breast, abdominal folds or skin folds around genitals or buttocks.
Fungal infection triggers the lesions of psoriasis.
PUSTULAR PSORIASIS:
Pustular psoriasis, as the name indicates, it appears as pus filled bumps surrounded by red skin. Redness of skin appears first and then formation of scales followed by formation of pus filled bumps.Generalized pustular psoriasis causes fever, chill, nausea, weakness in muscle and fast heart rate.
Pustular psoriasis is triggered by steroids, exposure to certain chemicals, overexposure to sun rays, sudden withdrawal of strong topical steroids, pregnancy, infection or stress.
Factors that have triggering effects on psoriasis should be avoided such as smoking, exposure to sun, stress, alcohol.
Pustular psoriasis have some complications such as nail loss, hair loss, bacterial skin infections, hypocalcemia, liver and kidney damage.
NAIL PSORIASIS:
Appearance of fungal infection is common in patient with nail psoriasis. Keep the nails dry and protect the nail from damage.
The cause of development of nail psoriasis is exactly known.
Characteristic appearance of nail psoriasis is:
• Color of nail changes from yellowish-red that resembles drop of blood or oil under the nail.
• Development of pits in the nail due to loss of cell from surface of nail.
• Development of Beau lines of nail, i.e. side to side line across to nail.
• Nail start getting separated from skin.
• Nail starts crumbling because of unhealthy underlying structures.
• Pale arched area at the bottom of the nail becomes red.
• With nail changes arthritis of finger develops.
ERYTHRODERMIC PSORIASIS:
A large area of body is affected in erythrodermic psoriasis. A widespread area of fiery red skin appears in erythrodermic psoriasis in addition with:
• Severe itching.
• Burning or peeling.
• Change in body temperature.
• Increase in heart rate.
Erythrodermic psoriasis may trigger from sudden withdrawal of psoriasis treatment, allergic drug reaction, infection or sunburn.
