Psoriasis Q & A

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells, so they produce red, scaly patches on the surface of your skin. These patches are itchy and sometimes even painful. There is no cure for psoriasis, so the goal of treatment is to help you manage your symptoms.

Psoriasis patches can appear anywhere on your body, but most frequently occur on your knees, elbows, scalp, and back. The affected skin appears as raised, reddish patches with a silvery white coating. The patches vary in size and may cover a large area of your skin.

There are several types of psoriasis, and each has its own set of symptoms. Psoriasis types include:

- Plaque (most common)
- Guttate
- Inverse
- Pustular
- Erythrodermic

What are common symptoms of psoriasis?

The symptoms of psoriasis depend on which type you have.

Plaque psoriasis often appears as raised, red skin lesions (plaques) covered in silvery scales.

Guttate psoriasis primarily affects younger children and is often triggered by a bacterial infection like strep throat. Lesions look like small, scaly water droplets on the arms, legs, scalp, and torso.

Inverse psoriasis typically affects the skin in your armpits, groin, and around breasts and genitals. It appears as red, inflamed skin that worsens with friction or sweating.

Pustular psoriasis is fairly uncommon and occurs on your hands, feet, or fingertips. It develops quickly, and within hours your skin becomes red and tender with pus-filled blisters. Fever, chills, severe itching, and diarrhea may accompany the outbreak.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is the least common form of the condition and covers your entire body with a red, peeling rash that burns or itches.

How is psoriasis treated?

Since psoriasis is a chronic condition for which there is no cure, the main goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and control flare-ups. Creams and ointments are effective for controlling mild to moderate forms of psoriasis, but if your condition is more severe, Dr. Borkowsky Rubell may prescribe oral medications or injectable medicines in combination with topical creams. Light therapy, in which you expose your affected skin to natural or artificial ultraviolet light, can help alleviate symptoms as well.

Since psoriasis affects each person differently, and an individualized treatment plan is most effective, call or schedule an appointment with Dr. Borkowsky Rubell to take the first step toward finding relief.