Psoriasis Page

Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, noncontagious skin disorder that appears in many different forms and can affect any part of the body, including the nails and scalp. Psoriasis is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the percentage of body surface involved and the impact on the sufferer's quality of life.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Defining Erythrodermic Psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis appears on the skin as a widespread reddening and exfoliation of fine scales, often accompanied by severe itching and pain. Swelling may also develop. This is a rare condition in which the rash is spread over large sections of the body. The skin is very inflamed which affects its ability to function properly. It does not retain fluid as normal, which results in the patient feeling constantly thirsty and being dehydrated. It also impairs the skin's performance in maintaining body temperature control so the sufferer may lose heat more easily and be more susceptible to hypothermia. This is also a more serious form of the condition and one that needs expert medical management.Erythrodermic psoriasis is a particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects most of the body surface. It is the least common form of the disease. It most commonly appears on people who have unstable plaque psoriasis, where lesions are not clearly defined