Different Forms of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is common, chronic skin condition that affects
millions of people every year. While the condition is seldom life
threatening and is easy to treat with over the counter medications many
people do not understand what it is. There are different types of psoriasis
that the majority of people are unfamiliar with and because of this a lot of
people who contract psoriasis may not even know that they have it because
there is not much information about it in the general public.
Psoriasis normally develops in early adulthood and can occur spontaneously
or be triggered by stress or infection. At this time there is no known cure
for psoriasis but it can be controlled with medications that often times are
able to send it into remission for anywhere from a few weeks to years at a
time.
Psoriasis exists in several forms that can attack anyone at anytime. The
five most common forms of psoriasis are: Plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular
and erythrodermic. There are many similarities between these different types
of psoriasis that link them together.
The most common form of psoriasis is plaque and it is identified by red
patches covered with silvery scales. These lesions normally appear on the
scalp but can also appear on the elbows, knees, palms and soles of the feet.
In more severe forms of the disease the entire skin surface may be involved
along with the mucous membranes. Sufferer may develop superficial pustules,
high fever, leukocytosis, and painful fissuring of the skin.
The guttate variant of psoriasis is similar to plaque except that it appears
as small red dots instead of a large area covered by the raised red patches
of plaque.
Inverse psoriasis is indicated by the plaque formations being present in the
folds of the body. This includes such areas as the armpits, breasts and
buttocks.
Pustular psoriasis is the form of the condition that is accompanied by pus
filled pustules similar to pimples.
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