What Do Psoriasis Look Like – Psoriasis skin rashes can appear in several forms, from white blisters to red and scaly patches. How do you know if you have psoriasis or a similar skin condition?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease believed to be caused by a malfunction of the immune system. If you have psoriasis, your immune system sends signals to your skin to speed up the production of skin cells. Although the disease has signs and symptoms that distinguish it from other conditions that affect the skin, it may not be easy to distinguish at first.
What Do Psoriasis Look Like
About 7.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis, which causes thick, red, dry, itchy, scaly patches of skin called plaques. Psoriasis plaques can consist of several scaly patches or large eruptions covering a large area. The disease can affect any part of your body, but it is most common on the scalp, elbows, knees, back, face, palms, and feet.
What Is Psoriasis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
There are five types of psoriasis – plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis – none of which are contagious. Each type causes a different skin rash and can appear on different parts of the body. Plaque psoriasis, also known as psoriasis vulgaris, is the most common type. About 90% of people with psoriasis have this form. Guttate psoriasis is the second most common type. Pustular psoriasis, characterized by pustular bumps called pustules, and erythrodermic psoriasis, a more severe form of the disease that affects about 3 percent of people with psoriasis, are much less common.
Although genetic factors play a major role in the development of chronic skin conditions, it is not known exactly what causes psoriasis.
Psoriasis symptoms often respond to treatment. Most psoriasis treatments are aimed at smoothing the skin by stopping the rapid growth of skin cells. But the disease never goes away completely and tends to come back. Treatment options may include topical corticosteroids and biologics. Another option is light therapy or phototherapy, which delivers targeted beams of light to the skin.
Psoriasis can be confused with a variety of conditions because it looks like other skin conditions, with inflammation and a scaly, itchy rash. These can include common skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and heat rash. Psoriasis can resemble and be confused with a fungal infection called ringworm.
Psoriasis Scaly Rash Treatment
In most cases, psoriasis is diagnosed through a physical examination. However, a skin biopsy may be necessary to rule out other possibilities and make a definitive diagnosis.
Psoriasis is the most common form of chronic skin disease, affecting about 80 percent of people with psoriasis. Usually starting as small red bumps on the skin, plaque psoriasis (pictured) turns into silvery, scaly red patches – these raised spots are called plaques. The bumps usually appear on the elbows, knees, or back, and can last for months or even years if left untreated.
Guttate psoriasis (pictured) – the second most common type of psoriasis, is characterized by many small, round red spots on the skin, usually spread over the trunk and limbs. In children, these spots, caused by bacterial or viral infections such as strep, appear suddenly and sometimes require oral treatment or injections. However, mild cases resolve without treatment.
Psoriasis skin rashes tend to itch, burn, and hurt. Psoriasis patches usually appear on the knees and elbows. Many people have scalp psoriasis. A common skin rash called seborrheic dermatitis (pictured) also causes patches of scaly, itchy skin. It can occur on the scalp, known as dandruff, or on the face or chest. Doctors don’t know the exact cause of seborrhea, but it occurs in both babies and adults and is often treated with ointments and creams.
Psoriasis: Symptoms And Complications
Pityriasis rosea (pictured) causes a red rash that looks like scaly or guttate psoriasis. This skin rash is common in children and teenagers. It usually begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by red, scaly, and sometimes itchy, oval-shaped patches on the back and abdomen. Like psoriasis, skin rashes are not contagious. Doctors don’t know the exact cause, but pityriasis rosea can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. You can take medication to relieve the itching, and the rash will go away in a few weeks to months. And unlike psoriasis, skin rashes rarely come back.
Like psoriasis, eczema (pictured) is a chronic skin condition that often causes severe itching. Scratching can cause redness and inflammation of the skin, which can make eczema worse. Scratches can also cause secondary bacterial infections. The most common form of eczema is caused by a reaction to irritants such as detergents, soaps, and household cleaners. Therefore, if you have eczema, you should use a mild soap and moisturize your sensitive skin regularly. If eczema is severe, your doctor may prescribe steroid creams or other medications.
Some forms of psoriasis present as pus-filled blisters that can be mistaken for acne. Pustular psoriasis causes white blisters filled with pus and surrounded by red skin. Acne (pictured) is more common than psoriasis, and pustules appear. However, unlike psoriasis, acne is caused by excess oil, clogged pores, and bacteria. Acne is common among teenagers and young adults and occurs on the face, neck, back, and chest. Pustular psoriasis usually occurs in adults and can occur anywhere on the body, but is less common on the face.
Like guttate psoriasis, measles (pictured) can follow the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in children and cause a rash with small red spots on the skin. However, the skin rash of measles usually starts on the face and spreads downward to cover the body, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, cough, and runny nose. While the measles rash is flat, the psoriasis rash is usually raised. Measles is caused by a virus and is contagious, but the measles vaccine has made it a rare disease in the United States.
What Is Psoriasis
Shingles (pictured) is another viral infection that shares some of the same symptoms as psoriasis. Like psoriasis, shingles can burn, itch, and cause a red, blistered rash. Shingles is caused by the same virus that originally caused chickenpox. The virus can stay in your body and come back years later, especially during times of stress or infection to cause shingles. Shingles skin rash usually occurs on the trunk along the course of a single nerve. In some cases, severe pain lasts for a long time after the burning, and the itchy rash disappears. Shingles is more common in people over the age of 50.
Tinea is a fungal infection that resembles some of the symptoms of psoriasis. Psoriasis can be a symptom of a fungal infection where the nails are thick, and both can cause a red, itchy skin rash. When an earlobe grows on your skin, it causes a scaly, red rash in the middle that peels away, called a ringworm (pictured). Fungal infections of the skin and nails are difficult to treat. Antifungal medications are effective, but you may need to use them for a long time.
Inverse psoriasis is a type of psoriasis that occurs in the armpits, under the breasts, in the skin folds, or in the groin area, causing the skin to be red and shiny. Sweating can make this type of psoriasis worse. Heat rash (pictured) also reddens the skin and occurs in the skin folds of the groin, breasts, and armpits. Heat rash occurs in hot and humid conditions. Sweating can clog your pores and cause a bumpy, red rash on your skin. Heat rash is more common in infants, but can also occur in older children and adults.
Dry, cracked skin is a symptom of psoriasis. However, dry air can make your skin dry and itchy. When the skin becomes dry and irritated (pictured), it is more likely to become infected. Infections can make your skin red and swollen. If the skin rash persists or does not go away, see a doctor. In most cases, psoriasis is diagnosed through a physical examination; however, psoriasis looks like many other skin conditions, so a definitive diagnosis requires a skin biopsy.
Psoriasis: Symptoms, Triggers, Types And Treatments
Here’s what you need to know about facial psoriasis treatment and self-care if you have symptoms around the eyes, ears, or lips.
The holidays can cause many problems for people with psoriasis, but here are some strategies to help you cope with stress, prevent infections, and more…
Psoriasis of the hands and feet can greatly affect how you function and feel. Here’s what it looks like and how to get the treatment you need….
Knees and elbows are some of the most common spots for psoriasis. Here are some specific concerns and treatments to try.
Psoriasis Types: Plaque, Guttate, More
Does drinking more water help with psoriasis symptoms? How good or bad is alcohol, tea or soda? Here’s how to make the healthiest choice for your skin… Although pustular psoriasis looks different from plaque psoriasis, plaque and pustular psoriasis can coexist or follow the other. The main distinguishing feature of pustular psoriasis is the appearance of pustules around or on the area.
What do psoriasis nails look like, what do psoriasis patches look like, what does psoriasis look like when it starts, what is plaque psoriasis look like, what do psoriasis flakes look like, what does psoriasis look like on hands, what is psoriasis look like, what does psoriasis look like pictures, what do psoriasis spots look like, what do psoriasis lesions look like, what can psoriasis look like, what do psoriasis plaques look like
