Types of Psoriasis

There are a few different types of psoriasis and each type can appear in different areas of your body. These different types not only show up in different places on the body but they also have different factors that aggravate it. Understanding these things can help you prevent further irritation of your psoriasis and help to give you some control over your condition.

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque Psoriasis: This is the most common form for psoriasis to take, and the majority of people with psoriasis deal with this type. Certain areas of your skin are raised, tender, and the top layer of skin appears like silvery white scales. Areas affected occur most often on the elbows, hands, feet, back, scalp, and knees, but plaque psoriasis can spread to different areas of the body as well.

Flexural Psoriasis: Skin affected with flexural psoriasis still will be inflamed; however these areas will not be textured. Instead they will be smooth and appear in folds of skin. Areas affected can be around armpits, under breasts, and around genitals. These areas are particularly prone to friction and perspiration, both of which can irritate your psoriasis. These sensitive spots are also susceptible to fungal infections, so be sure to keep areas clean and as sweat-free as possible.

Guttate Psoriasis: This form does appear as patches, but rather small spots. Usually these will be shaped like ovals or raindrops and can cover a wide area of the body. If you find numerous small spots on your arms, legs, torso, and/or scalp, there is a good chance you have guttate psoriasis. Occasionally people ill with strep throat will also have guttate psoriasis. This form also may clear up on its own.

Pustular Psoriasis: A more unpleasant form of psoriasis, pustular psoriasis will appear as pustules on the body. These pustules, though they will be raised and tender, contain noninfectious pus. You may find that the skin around these pustules is also red and sore.

Nail Psoriasis: This psoriasis is restricted to your fingernails and toenails and can discolor them, create lines across them, begin pitting them, thicken the skin beneath your nails, or force the nail to become loose or weaken and deteriorate.

Psoriatic Arthritis: As you may have already guessed, this form of psoriasis affects your joints and other connective tissues. Both can cause joints to swell and become painful. It is usually located in fingers and toes; however it may also appear in the joints or tissue of knees, hips, and spine.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis: A very important thing to know is that this form of psoriasis can be deadly. Erythrodermic psoriasis can develop from plaque psoriasis that has become extremely aggravated and no longer receiving treatment. It can cover the entire body and upset the normal functions of skin, allowing body temperature to become unstable and allow more foreign entities into your body, such as bacterial infections. If you have a specific skin regime that you follow to keep your psoriasis under control, do not neglect it.

Do some of these symptoms seem familiar to you?