What Is Psoriasis And How Many Types Are There?

Wondering what psoriasis is? This is a chronic skin disease that is characterized by the appearance of red spots that cause itching. These spots show scaling in shades of white or silver, depending on the severity of the condition.

What is psoriasis?

This autoimmune disease accelerates the activity of red blood cells. The layers of the skin regenerate much faster than in a normal cycle of cell renewal, creating lesions on the skin that cause itching and irritation.

Psoriasis is generally a hereditary condition. Therefore, if no one in your family has this disease, you can rest assured, as the chances of developing it are minimal. But if you know what psoriasis is, you can help the people around you.

The cause of psoriasis is usually physical and mental exhaustion, your  mind and body being subjected to a high level of stress.

A messy lifestyle and work or family problems can act as triggers if they extend over a long period of time.

How many types of psoriasis are there?

Now that you have learned what psoriasis is, in order to be able to treat the disease effectively, you need to know what type you are suffering from.

Plaque psoriasis

This is the most common type of psoriasis and is characterized by the formation of plaques on the skin. Usually, plaque psoriasis occurs on the knees, elbows, face, ears and back. 

At first, a normal rash appears, but it does not go away when you apply various creams taken from the pharmacy. The rash then acquires a reddish hue and a scaly texture. At the level of the affected skin there are also portions with well-defined edges.

Plaque psoriasis causes severe itching and sometimes even bleeding from dry skin or excessive scratching.

If the rash is located on the scalp, white, dandruff-like flakes may appear. If the disease affects your nails, they begin to break, and sometimes they can even come off completely.

Psoriasis drops

This type of psoriasis produces small, red spots on the upper body and limbs, but covers a small portion. It can affect the ears, face and scalp and is more common in people under the age of 30.

Gouty psoriasis does not cause as thick lesions as plaque. 

People with streptococcus or those who are prone to inheriting this disease develop psoriasis when exposed to a cold, dry skin.

Pustular psoriasis

This type of psoriasis especially affects adults and is characterized by the formation of white blisters or pustules with non-infectious pus, accompanied by redness on the surrounding skin.

The skin turns red just before the blisters form. In addition, itching and pain may be felt in the affected area.

Erythrodermic psoriasis

This type of psoriasis is considered to be one of the most dangerous forms of the disease because it covers large parts of the skin with reddish spots and occurs simultaneously with pustular psoriasis.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is more common among people with unstable plaque psoriasis, in which the lesions last indefinitely.

Reverse psoriasis

Reversed psoriasis generally occurs in areas where the skin folds: under the armpit, in the genital area and under the breasts. It causes major discomfort, as perspiration keeps the skin sensitive.

This type of psoriasis occurs on large parts of the skin, being very easy to notice, but does not cause flaking.

Nail psoriasis

If your nails eat you, have an irregular surface or are broken at the root, the cause of these problems is psoriasis. This form of the disease resembles scalp psoriasis or plaque psoriasis.

Symptoms include irregularities in the surface of the nail, ruptures in the nail or its complete detachment.

Scalp psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is often confused with severe dandruff. People who already suffer from another form of the disease also face it.

At the beginning there are some thin scales that gradually acquire a much higher density. Thickened scales can spread to the entire surface of the scalp, but also to the neck, ears and forehead.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis generally affects people between the ages of 30 and 50. Its symptoms are:

• Inflammation
• Pain in and around the joints
• Stiff joints
• Fatigue and limited movement
• Red eyes
• Tendon numbness

Psoriasis and depression

Often, people with psoriasis also have symptoms of depression. This is because the unpleasant aspect of the injuries attracts the attention of those around them in a negative way, diminishing the self-esteem of the affected person.

If you also have one of these forms of psoriasis, it is important to seek the support of family and friends, who understand and encourage you.

Remember that over-the-counter medications are not a solution. Your immune system is different from that of other people who suffer from this disease. Each affected person needs a different treatment.