Psoriasis

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a skin condition stemming from an underlying autoimmune issue. If you have psoriasis, your immune system affects healthy skin cells as if they aren’t a natural part of your body. 

Your immune system’s reaction causes the life cycles of your skin cells to speed up, leading to the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface. They tend to look like scales and often have redness or irritation around them. These patches are called plaques. 

Psoriasis does not have a cure, so you’ll have it for the rest of your life. Yet, many people stop experiencing symptoms either for long periods of time or for good as the disease can go into remission. With psoriasis, you’re unlikely to experience the symptoms continuously. Instead, you’ll get them during flare-ups. 

Which type of psoriasis do I have?

Foothill Dermatology Medical Center treats the five types of psoriasis. You might have one or more at the same time:

Plaque psoriasis

By far the most common of the five, plaque psoriasis causes inflamed patches of skin covered by white or silver-looking scales. Usually, the patches appear on the scalp and around the knee and elbow joints. 

Guttate psoriasis

Guttate is more likely to flare up in childhood than in adulthood. It causes pink dots to appear on your extremities and torso. 

Inverse psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis patches appear in the groin and in other folded areas of skin, like under the breasts. They’re red, smooth, and shiny. 

Pustular psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis causes flare-ups that occur mostly in adulthood. During a flare-up, you develop white blisters filled with pus atop large regions of red, inflamed skin. 

Erythrodermic psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis is the most rare and severe of the five types. The rashes look similar to sunburns and can come with a high fever, heart palpitations, and intense pain. You should get medical attention right away for an erythrodermic psoriasis flare-up because the condition can be life-threatening. 

How can I manage my psoriasis?

Managing psoriasis can reduce signs and symptoms. Even if you can’t cure the condition, finding an effective way to manage it can keep you more comfortable and prevent the self-consciousness that often comes with visible skin conditions. 

Your dermatologist works with you to create, modify, and manage a treatment plan. Identifying your triggers and modifying your lifestyle to avoid them can make a major difference in the number of flare-ups you get, and there are topical and oral treatments available for active flare-ups. 

Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy can also reduce your psoriasis symptoms by killing your overactive white blood cells, which facilitate the immune attack on your skin cells. 

To book an appointment for psoriasis evaluation and treatment, call Foothill Dermatology Medical Center or schedule online today.