Five Main Types of Psoriasis

How many types of psoriasis that you have heard? Even you are common with psoriasis, but you may not know that there are actually five different types of psoriasis. A psoriasis patient may have multiple types of psoriasis simultaneously, or may initially with symptoms of one type only which then over time develop symptoms of other types. The five different types of psoriasis are similar in certain features in which they are believed to originate due to disturbance of natural immune system and have tendency to be genetically inherited in families. However, they also have unique features that differentiate among them.

The five types of psoriasis are:

1. Plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most familiar type of psoriasis, about 80-90% of psoriasis patients are of this type. Patients usually have patches or plaques that are tender and appear as thick, red, swollen, inflamed and covered with a crusty silver scale. Patients may suffer from itchiness due to presence of the plaques. These plaques are typically seen on knees, elbows, scalp, or trunk, although they can appear anywhere on the body skin area. Plaques, once develop and grow, may remain on the skin for a period of many years.

2. Guttate psoriasis
In this type of psoriasis, one can see a presence of small, light pink or red, drop-like spots scattered especially on the trunk, limbs and/or scalp, and it is usually triggered by strep infection of throat. Skin injury, respiratory tract infection, stress and certain medications like anti-malaria and beta-blockers also can contribute to this type of psoriasis. Persons less than 30 years old are the common patients that fall under this type. Even though the symptoms of guttate psoriasis typically occur as a one-time episode, but sometimes they may reappear especially after another respiratory infections.

3. Pustular psoriasis
As its name implies, pustular psoriasis is commonly characterized by the red, tender and yellowish or whitish pus-filled blisters. In most cases, this type of psoriasis only affects the hand and soles of the feet. But, some affected patients may have the blisters on many areas throughout the body. In uncontrolled event, pustular-psoriasis patients may develop von Zumbusch-type psoriasis in which they develop systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, weight loss, nausea, headache, fatigue and joints pain.

A phenomenon known as acrodermatitis continua may develop in some pustular-psoriasis patients. This phenomenon occurs when pus of the blisters accumulates beneath the fingernails and displacing them from their original location. Similar to guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis can also be induced by a reaction to medications, chemicals, stress or infections. Most commonly affected are adults, even though there are rare cases involving children. Symptoms of pustular psoriasis can be acute for short-period of time, or develop to a chronic, long-term condition.

4. Inverse psoriasis
Differ to other types of psoriasis which typically cause scaly of skin, inverse psoriasis instead produces smooth red and swollen areas. The patches usually grow in the folds like of the underarms, under the breast, navel, groin and buttocks. Because of their tendency to grow in warm, damp areas, there is a high possibility of complications caused by yeast or fungi infection. The symptoms may be worsen due to sweating and rubbing. Overweight individuals are at the higher chance to develop this type of psoriasis compared to skinnier persons.

5. Erythrodermic psoriasis

Although erythrodermic psoriasis is the least common type of psoriasis, but it can develop very serious complications. Its inflamed, red, swollen, peeling skin symptoms are widespread, affecting large areas of skin and in some cases the whole body. The affected areas can cause extreme itchiness and severe burn to patients. This widespread inflammation triggers the body to counteract by increasing the blood flow to the affected areas. Since the areas to cover are very large, this forces the heart to pump harder and become strained with the extra work involved. In long term, the pumping function of the heart may be weakened and patients may develop chronic heart failure. Patients affected with erythrodermic psoriasis are at higher risk to get infection, fever and dehydration which may need hospitalization. Common triggers of this type of psoriasis include medications, especially steroids, undertreated psoriasis or excessive sunburn.

Like been told in the first paragraph, a psoriasis patient may have multiple types of psoriasis simultaneously, or develop each type over the period of time. It is in fact important to know and accurately identify the forms of psoriasis you have, so that the treatment given can be effective to alleviate the symptoms.

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