You may have already met someone with red patches on their arms or scalp, thinking it was just a transient annoyance. But if these patches persist, itch, thicken… then it could be much more than just a skin problem. Psoriasis, often misconceive, can mess up the daily lives of those who deal with it. But there is hot news: knowing it better also means better manage.
What is psoriasis? An internal disorder
The exact cause remains uncertain, but it is known that hereditary factors, stress, certain infections, or even sunburn can bring about or aggravate flare-ups.
Plaque psoriasis: the most common, but not the simplest
Imagine skin that feels like it’s full of a layer of peeling paint, rough to the touch, and sometimes hurting. This is often how plaque psoriasis, the most popular form, manifests.
Typical symptoms:
- Thick red plaques, layered silvery scales
- Areas affected: elbows, knees, scalp, lower back
- Moderate to harsh itching
- Relying on skin color, the plaques can be different in shade and leave discolored areas, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation .
Guttate psoriasis: small spots, big problems
This type, often happens in children or young adults, appears as a rash of small lesions on the torso, arms or legs, usually after an infection such as tonsillitis.
To remember:
- Small, drop-shaped spots
- Often transmitted by a bacterial infection (e.g., strep throat)
- Few scaly, but numerous
- This is sometimes the first symtom of latent psoriasis appearing.
Inverse psoriasis: discreet but unpleasant
In the folds of the skin – armpits, groin, under the breasts – lies a less visible but very annoying form: inverse psoriasis.
Special features:
- Red, smooth, shiny plaques
- Irritated by heat, perspiration and friction
- Increased risk of fungal infections
Pustular psoriasis: when the skin becomes aroused
Less popular, this type is unusual: white blisters filled with pus (non-infectious) appear, enclosed by red, sensitive skin. It can be localized (hands, feet) or generalized.
Signs to watch for:
- Presence of painful pustules
- Sometimes along with fever and chills
- A prompt medical consultation is crucial
- This is a war:ning signal from the body that should not be neglected.
Erythrodermic psoriasis: the rarest, but also the most threatening
Imagine widespread skin inflammation, like a large burn. Redness, massive scaling, intense pain: erythrodermic psoriasis is a medical emergency.
Please note:
- Can spread the whole body
- Causes intense itching, pain and swelling
- May happen after abrupt discontinuation of treatment or significant skin aggression
- This type demands rapid hospitalization to avoid any complications.
And what about nails?
Psoriasis doesn’t spare the extremities: nails can become thick, checkered, or peel off. These signs are often the first signals of psoriatic arthritis, a joint form of psoriasis that impacts on nearly one in three patients.
Living with psoriasis
Psoriasis can be disheartening, sometimes burning, and often stigmatizing. But by knowing its forms, signs, and triggers, you can understand to better control it.
