Psoriasis skin

Symptoms

Common symptoms of psoriasis are red rashes that are scaly or itchy. Where the rash is and what it looks like depends on the type of psoriasis you have.

Plaque psoriasis

The most common form is called plaque psoriasis (plaquepsoriasis). Symptoms are round and scaly rashes that itch. Beneath the silver-white scales, the skin is fragile and bleeds easily. On fair skin, the rash is often red or pink. On dark skin, the spots are purple or darker.

Plaque psoriasis usually occurs on the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp. Another characteristic is that the rash often appears on both sides of the body, for example on both knees. The problems often come in periods.

Gutted psoriasis

Symptoms are red dots on the skin. Most often, the dots are round and measure approximately 0.5-1 cm in diameter. Guttate psoriasis can also scaly and redden the skin.

Guttate psoriasis can break out in connection with strep throat or other infections. This variant usually affects teenagers and can go away.

Inverse psoriasis

Common symptoms are shiny rashes that settle in the skin folds. Unlike many other variants, the rash from inverse psoriasis does not peel.

Inverse psoriasis can, for example, affect the groin, armpits, under the breast and navel. The face can also be affected. Then it is usually around the wings of the nose, the eyebrows or the hairline on the forehead.

Pustulosis palmoplantaris (PPP)

This variant is controversial because some believe it is not a form of psoriasis. Pustulosis palmoplantaris produces yellow blisters which then dry up. The skin may itch and feel sore when new blisters appear. The rash settles on the soles of the feet and in the palms of the hands. Pustulosis palmoplantaris almost exclusively affects smokers or ex-smokers. 

Other forms of psoriasis

Psoriasis can also come in other variants such as

• hand-foot psoriasis
• scalp psoriasis

What can I do myself?

Psoriasis often requires treatment because the symptoms rarely go away on their own. Depending on your lifestyle, there are certain things you can do to reduce the discomfort. Research suggests that people with psoriasis are extra sensitive to an unhealthy lifestyle. Eating healthy food and exercising are therefore general advice that you can think about.

Things you can do yourself are to:

• lose weight if you are overweight
• stop smoking
• reduce alcohol intake
• exercise and move
• prevent stress.

How is psoriasis treated?

Psoriasis is a chronic disease, but with treatment the symptoms can be alleviated or disappear almost completely. The disease is often treated with the help of creams, light therapy and medicines. There are also special treatment products that are made in a water bath, e.g. BIOpH Psoriasis medical bath.

Skin care for psoriasis

There are many different types of creams, lotions and ointments that can be used for psoriasis. Which creams or agents you should use depends on the type of psoriasis you have, where the rash is and how old you are.

Moisturizing the skin is among the most important in psoriasis. Try to get into a routine that works for you. The products may preferably contain substances that soften the skin, reduce itching and are exfoliating.

Products containing steroids are also common in psoriasis and can reduce the risk of the rash flaring up.

Psoriasis on the face

Psoriasis rarely affects the face. When this happens, the eyelids are usually the area affected.

Since the skin on the face, and especially on the eyelids, is sensitive, you should use skin care that is specifically adapted to psoriasis on the face. Use natural skin care and products without perfume.

Peeling and certain types of facial treatments can make the skin more fragile. This is exactly what you should be careful with, because psoriasis likes to settle where the skin is damaged. For example, you can choose a gentle peeling if you want to peel your face.

If you use skin care with sunscreen, this must be washed off before light treatment.

Light treatment

If you are not helped by skin care that is adapted to relieve psoriasis, you can try light treatments. These are available in different variants depending on the level of difficulty.

• UVB
  Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis can be treated with UVB. Most often, the treatment is given a couple of times a week for a couple of weeks.
• PUVA
  In severe psoriasis, PUVA can be used. This is also given more intensively for a shorter period.
• Climate protection
  Traveling to the Canary Islands or another sunny place can act as a supplement to other treatment.