Plaque-Type Psoriasis

Plaque-type psoriasis is the most common form of the disease and is commonly referred to as psoriasis vulgaris (Camisa 56). Plaque-type psoriasis is characterized by inflamed skin lesions topped with silvery white scales. This type of psoriasis can assume many different appearances based on its location, the activity of the disease, and the treatment being administered. Plaque-type psoriasis is most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, sacrum, umbilicus, intergluteal cleft, and genitalia (Camisa 56).

Historical Psoriasis

Although the name psoriasis was not introduced for many years the actual condition of psoriasis was first talked of by the Greek Physician, Hippocrates who lived between 460 and 377 BC. The condition has indeed been around for a long time, with our current knowledge evolving over hundreds of years.
Psoriasis was again mentioned in the first century by Cornelius celsus, a Roman author. Celsus described it as the fourth variant of impetigo, a condition caused by staphlococcus pyogenes. This condition appears as red patches with watery blisters on the skin.
Joseph Jacob Plenck (Vienna 1776) wrote of Psoriasis as being amongst the group of desquamative (scaly or scale like) diseases. He did not delve further to differentiate it from other dermatological conditions.
The English dermatologist, Robert Willan (1757 – 1812) recognized psoriasis as an independent disease. He identified two categories. Leprosa Graecorum was the term he used to describe the condition when the skin had scales. Psora Leprosa described the condition when it became eruptive.
In 1841 Ferdinand Hebra, a Viennese dermatologist worked on Willan’s notes and was the first to ascribe the name ‘psoriasis’. It was Hebra who described the clinical picture of psoriasis that is used today. The hereditary factor of psoriasis had already been established by this time.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis occurs in less than 10% of people with psoriasis.

Its treatment often requires consultation with a rheumatologist in addition to treatment of the skin lesions by a dermatologist. It occurs most frequently in psoriasis patients whose disease is active, especially in persons with the pustular type of psoriasis.

Occasionally it appears in a person who has no dermatologic signs or symptoms of psoriasis, in which case it must be diagnosed by its unique laboratory test results. Psoriasis of the fingernails and toenails is associated with a higher incidence of psoriatic arthritis.

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis, although the diseases are otherwise quite different. Arthritis changes cause deterioration and pain in small joints of the hands and feet, large joints of the legs and spine, and tendons.

Nonspecific foot pain or "tennis elbow" may be an early symptom to appear and may be overlooked if not associated with psoriatic skin or nail lesions.

Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small red dots (or drops) of psoriasis.

Guttate is derived from the Latin word gutta meaning "drop." It often appears on the trunk, arms and legs. The lesions may have some scale.

Guttate psoriasis frequently appears suddenly following a streptococcal infection or viral upper respiratory infections. There are also other events that can precipitate an attack of guttate psoriasis: tonsillitis, a cold, chicken pox, immunizations, physical trauma, psychological stress, illness, and the administration of anti-malarial drugs.

Guttate psoriasis is many small patches of psoriasis, all over the body, and often happens after a throat infection.

Guttate Psoriasis most often affects children and young adults. It appears as small, red bumps-the size of drops of water-on the skin. It usually appears suddenly, often several weeks after an infection such as strep throat.