Because these grow faster than the body can shed existing skin cells, thick, scaly patches form. On lighter skin tones, psoriasis usually appears as pink or red patches with silvery-white scales. On darker skin, psoriasis is more likely to appear as purple patches with gray scales or as a dark brown color. Learn more about psoriasis on black skin. There are several types of psoriasis.
Most types of psoriasis tend to be mild to moderate. However, some types of psoriasis can be severe. People with psoriasis may initially only develop one type of psoriasis, but can develop another type at a later point in time.
Psoriasis is often a lifelong condition, and symptoms tend to be cyclical. This means that they may increase in intensity at certain periods and lessen at others.
People refer to these periods of heightened symptoms as flares. Plaque psoriasis, also known as psoriasis vulgaris, causes areas of plaque buildup on the skin and is the most common form of psoriasis. Plaque is a thickened area of skin. 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. Plaque psoriasis tends to be mild to moderate but can be severe. However, treatment will typically include the application of topical ointments to affected areas, and in some cases exposing the skin to ultraviolet light.
However, it can also appear on the forehead, back of the head, down the neck, and behind the ears. Scalp psoriasis is common among people with psoriasis.
Treatment for scalp psoriasis often involves more than one method at a time. Learn more about the best shampoos for psoriasis here. Guttate psoriasis is characterized by red, purple, or dark dots and spots spread throughout the skin. The dots and spots are not as thick as plaques in plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis often starts in childhood or young adulthood and appears after an infection.
Guttate psoriasis typically causes spots to appear on the legs, arm, and torso. However, these may also appear on the face, scalp, and ears. In severe cases of guttate psoriasis, there may be hundreds of these spots, and they may cover the majority of an affected area.
Doctors will typically recommend topical creams and ointments as the first step for treating guttate psoriasis. These treatments may help reduce swelling and alleviate itching. 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.
In some cases, they may also suggest a patient undergo light therapy. Inverse psoriasis appears as patches of discoloration that are most often found in the folds of the skin, such as in the armpits and groin.
People with inverse psoriasis often have other forms of psoriasis elsewhere on their bodies. On white skin, inverse psoriasis presents as bright red or pink marks. On black or brown skin it may appear as red, purple, or darker than the surrounding area. The areas of the body that are most often affected by inverse psoriasis tend to have thinner skin than other areas.
This usually occurs after someone already has another type of psoriasis, such as plaque psoriasis, on the skin. If you already have plaque psoriasis and develop generalized pustular psoriasis, a trigger is often the cause. Possible triggers include getting an infection or stopping corticosteroid pills too quickly.
From left to right: 1 Lots of nail pits, 2 a few nail pits and the nail is starting to lift away, and 3 discoloration and lifting.
Nail psoriasis becomes more common with age. Some people have a buildup of skin under one or more of their nails, which can also cause a nail to lift up. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can worsen and damage joints. This damage is irreversible and can cause a lifelong disability.
Treatment can prevent psoriatic arthritis from worsening. That said, if you already have plaque psoriasis, it may be possible to reduce your risk of developing another type of psoriasis on your skin.
Dermatologists recommend taking the following precautions:. Watching your weight may help prevent inverse psoriasis. This type of psoriasis is more common in people who are 20 or more pounds overweight.
Life-threatening signs and symptoms, such as redness that covers most of your body, fever, and chills, require immediate medical care. When signs and symptoms are not life threatening, you should see a board-certified dermatologist for a diagnosis. Egeberg A, Thyssen JP, et al. Gottlieb A, Korman NJ, et al. Psoriatic arthritis: Overview and guidelines of care for treatment with an emphasis on the biologics. Khosravi H, Siegel MP, et al. Menter A, Gottlieb A, et al.
Overview of psoriasis and guidelines of care for the treatment of psoriasis with biologics. Trettel A, Spehr C, et al. It may take time to see the effects of these treatments as nails grow very slowly. Treatment options include:. Scalp psoriasis is common in people with plaque psoriasis. For some people, it may cause severe dandruff.
For others, it can be painful, itchy, and very noticeable at the hairline. Scalp psoriasis can extend to the neck, face, and ears in one large patch or many smaller patches. In some cases, scalp psoriasis can complicate regular hair hygiene. Excessive scratching can cause hair loss and scalp infections. The condition may also cause feelings of social stress. Topical treatments are most commonly used for scalp psoriasis.
They may require an initial two months of intensive applications, plus permanent, regular maintenance. Light therapy, oral medications, and biologics also may be recommended depending upon the responsiveness to treatment. Although there is no one cure for any form of psoriasis, remission and significant healing is possible.
Your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan that helps manage your condition. You can also take steps at home to manage psoriasis. Doctors may slowly build up to the most effective treatment plan for your psoriasis symptoms. Most start with a topical or light therapy treatment and only progress to systemic medications if the first line of treatment is unsuccessful. Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders can be side effects of psoriasis.
You may benefit from therapy or support groups where you can meet other people experiencing similar issues or concerns. You can also talk with your healthcare provider about seeing a therapist who has experience with psoriasis. Visit the National Psoriasis Foundation for the latest information on research, events, and programs.
There are different types of psoriasis that present different symptoms. The type of psoriasis you have, and its severity, will determine your treatment.
Generally speaking, milder cases with smaller psoriasis patches can often be treated topically. More serious cases, with larger patches, may require systemic treatment. Researchers believe that a combination of genetics, and environmental and immune system factors cause psoriasis. Thanks to the advocacy work of dozens of psoriasis activists and organizations, psoriasis is also gaining more support and awareness.
Talk to your doctor if you believe you have psoriasis. Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin condition that affects millions of people of every skin color.
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