Psoriasis

Many people think that psoriasis is a single skin condition but there are actually 5 major types of Psoriasis. Knowing more about your type will help you make more informed decision about your treatment methods.

Each type of Psoriasis has very distinct characteristics.

Plaque Psoriasis:

• This is the most common form of psoriasis affecting 80-90% of patients
• Looks like patches of raised round to oval, red skin covered by silvery white scale
• Scalp elbows and knees are common locations.

Guttate Psoriasis:

• Occurs in about 2% of psoriasis patients
• Often appears 2-3 weeks after a cold, especially a Strep throat
• Guttate psoriasis often starts in childhood or young adulthood and presents as small pink dots on the torso, arms, and legs
• Can respond well to ultraviolet light phototherapy.

Inverse Psoriasis:

• Develops in the folds of the skin eg armpits, groin, under the breasts or crease of the buttocks
• The skin looks raw with smooth patches
• Most people with inverse psoriasis will have another type of psoriasis at the same time on another part of the body.

Pustular Psoriasis:

• Mostly found in adults, pustular psoriasis appears as white blisters of noninfectious pus surround by red skin
• Occurs most often on hands and feet.

Nail Psoriasis:

• May affect up to 55 per cent of patients with psoriasis
• Commonly seen in psoriasis patients who also have psoriatic arthritis
• Nails may loosen from the nail bed, crumble, be pitted, thickened and/or discoloured.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis:

• A severe form of psoriasis that affects most of the body with widespread redness of the skin and shedding of scales of the sheets
• Commonly occurs on people who have unstable plaque psoriasis
• It is a rare form of psoriasis affecting approximately 3% of people suffering psoriasis during their lifetime.

Correct diagnosis is key for effective ongoing management.