Getting the Facts on Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It is characterized by raised, inflamed (red) lesions covered with a silvery white scale. The scale is actually a buildup of dead skin cells. The technical name for plaque psoriasis is psoriasis vulgaris (vulgaris means common). Plaque psoriasis may appear on any skin surface, though the knees, elbows, scalp, and trunk are the most common locations.
Sometimes the patches of infected skin are large, extending over much of the body. The patches, known as plaques or lesions, can wax and wane but tend to be chronic. These can be very itchy and if scratched or scraped they may bleed easily.
The plaques usually have a well-defined edge and, while they can appear anywhere on the body, the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, knees and elbows. The face is rarely affected. However, if the scalp is involved, you may develop psoriasis on the hairline and forehead.The actual appearance of the plaques can depend on where they are found on the body. Plaques found on the palms and soles can be scaly, however they may not be very red in color. This is due to the thickness of the skin at these sites.
If the plaques are in moist areas, such as in the creases of the armpits or between the buttocks, there is usually little or no scaling. The patches are red and have a well-defined border.Chronic (or common) plaque psoriasis affects over 90% of sufferers. It appears usually on the scalp, lower back, elbows, arms, legs, knees and shoulders. It is very much an adult condition and is seldom seen in children.Chronic plaque psoriasis is not always itchy, nor is it always an uncomfortable condition, but its appearance, along with the shedding of the skin, can cause many sufferers a great deal of emotional discomfort.
Each psoriatic patch looks like a series of little discs or plaques that have super-imposed themselves on to the body. This plaque-like shape is peculiar to this form of the condition and is what gives it its name. The plaques are often round or oval in shape or they may not have a distinct shape, but they almost always stand out from the surrounding area of the body. The difference between the normal skin and the area affected by psoriasis can be quite marked. Each patch can start as a very small lesion, and then enlarge over a period of days or weeks. Individual psoriatic patches can spread and join with each other to affect a large area of the body. In a typical flare up, the condition can spread quite quickly over a few days or weeks and then stabilize before gradually disappearing. The psoriatic patches become less red and scaly until they reduce in size or disappear completely. The patches are red and rough to the touch and the affected skin incredibly scaly. Scaliness can be kept to a minimum by regularly moisturizing the skin with the relevant creams and ointments. It is important to keep the skin moisturized even when the psoriatic patches seem to have cleared. Often the skin underneath has not yet healed and, if it isn't treated properly, the scaliness may return quite quickly.
Symptoms of plaque psoriasis:
Look on the knees and elbows for red scaly plaques.
small plaques on the knuckles
characteristic plaques located behind the ears or in the ears
psoriatic plaques located elsewhere on the body
pits or onychodystrophy on the nails
If the person has none of the above then the person categorically does not have psoriasis. If the person has all of the above then the person has psoriasis. If the person has some of the above sometimes a diagnosis can be more difficult.
Sometimes the patches of infected skin are large, extending over much of the body. The patches, known as plaques or lesions, can wax and wane but tend to be chronic. These can be very itchy and if scratched or scraped they may bleed easily.
The plaques usually have a well-defined edge and, while they can appear anywhere on the body, the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, knees and elbows. The face is rarely affected. However, if the scalp is involved, you may develop psoriasis on the hairline and forehead.The actual appearance of the plaques can depend on where they are found on the body. Plaques found on the palms and soles can be scaly, however they may not be very red in color. This is due to the thickness of the skin at these sites.
If the plaques are in moist areas, such as in the creases of the armpits or between the buttocks, there is usually little or no scaling. The patches are red and have a well-defined border.Chronic (or common) plaque psoriasis affects over 90% of sufferers. It appears usually on the scalp, lower back, elbows, arms, legs, knees and shoulders. It is very much an adult condition and is seldom seen in children.Chronic plaque psoriasis is not always itchy, nor is it always an uncomfortable condition, but its appearance, along with the shedding of the skin, can cause many sufferers a great deal of emotional discomfort.
Each psoriatic patch looks like a series of little discs or plaques that have super-imposed themselves on to the body. This plaque-like shape is peculiar to this form of the condition and is what gives it its name. The plaques are often round or oval in shape or they may not have a distinct shape, but they almost always stand out from the surrounding area of the body. The difference between the normal skin and the area affected by psoriasis can be quite marked. Each patch can start as a very small lesion, and then enlarge over a period of days or weeks. Individual psoriatic patches can spread and join with each other to affect a large area of the body. In a typical flare up, the condition can spread quite quickly over a few days or weeks and then stabilize before gradually disappearing. The psoriatic patches become less red and scaly until they reduce in size or disappear completely. The patches are red and rough to the touch and the affected skin incredibly scaly. Scaliness can be kept to a minimum by regularly moisturizing the skin with the relevant creams and ointments. It is important to keep the skin moisturized even when the psoriatic patches seem to have cleared. Often the skin underneath has not yet healed and, if it isn't treated properly, the scaliness may return quite quickly.
Symptoms of plaque psoriasis:
Look on the knees and elbows for red scaly plaques.
small plaques on the knuckles
characteristic plaques located behind the ears or in the ears
psoriatic plaques located elsewhere on the body
pits or onychodystrophy on the nails
If the person has none of the above then the person categorically does not have psoriasis. If the person has all of the above then the person has psoriasis. If the person has some of the above sometimes a diagnosis can be more difficult.
posted by Nick Riley @ 11:55 PM
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