- Psoriasis symptoms
- 1. Psoriasis vulgaris
- 2. Guttate psoriasis
- 3. Arthropathic psoriasis or psoriatic attrition
- 4. Pustular psoriasis
- 5. Nail psoriasis
- 6. Psoriasis on the scalp
- Psoriasis in children
- Essential treatment and care
Psoriasis is a skin disease of unknown cause characterized by the presence of red, scaly lesions on the skin that can appear anywhere on the body, such as elbows, knees and scalp, for example.
This disease has no cure, but it is also not contagious and the control of symptoms can be done with the use of medications as instructed by the dermatologist.
Psoriasis symptoms
Psoriasis is initially characterized by lesions on the skin that spontaneously disappear, called psoriatic plaques, but that can spontaneously grow and cover large parts of the body. At the site of the plaque there is usually no hair, but growth returns to normal when the plaque disappears. Symptoms of psoriasis can disappear spontaneously, without the need for treatment, however they can re-appear in periods of greater stress, for example. See what are the main doubts about psoriasis.
Psoriasis can be classified into several types according to where the symptoms and characteristics of the lesion appear:
1. Psoriasis vulgaris
It is the most frequent type of psoriasis and is characterized by the presence of lesions of varying sizes that usually appear on the scalp, knees and elbows. These lesions are red and well-defined, usually covered with white scales, can itch a lot and, in some cases, can also bleed.
2. Guttate psoriasis
This type of psoriasis is the most common of yer identified in children and is characterized by the presence of small lesions in the skin in the form of a drop, mainly on the trunk, arm and thighs, and is most often associated with infection by bacteria of the genus Streptococcus .
3. Arthropathic psoriasis or psoriatic attrition
In this type of psoriasis, in addition to the appearance of red and scaly plaques characteristic of the disease, the joints are also very painful. This type of psoriasis can affect from the joints of the fingertips to the knee.
4. Pustular psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is uncommon and is characterized by the presence of lesions with pus spread throughout the body or hands. In this type of psoriasis, other symptoms can also be observed, such as fever, chills, itching and diarrhea, for example.
5. Nail psoriasis
In this type of psoriasis, yellow spots or changes in the shape and texture of the fingernails can be observed, and can even be confused with a ringworm.
6. Psoriasis on the scalp
The symptoms of psoriasis on the scalp usually appear in periods of stress, being characterized by the presence of thick white scales adhered to the scalp, around the hair follicles. In addition, there is redness in the affected region and decreased amount of hair in the region.
Psoriasis in children
The symptoms of psoriasis in children and adolescents are the same as in adults, but in very young children there may be some changes. In children up to 2 years old, psoriasis manifests itself especially in the diaper region, being similar to diaper erythema (diaper rash), but in child psoriasis, which is usually of the guttate psoriasis type, there are:
- Slight redness of the affected area, with a slightly bright tone, with well-defined edges; Also involved in the inguinal folds; There may or may not be associated itching.
About 2 weeks after the appearance of this lesion, it is common to have the same psoriasis lesions on the face, scalp, trunk or limbs. Learn all about guttate psoriasis.
Essential treatment and care
The treatment for psoriasis is done in order to control your symptoms, and should be done as instructed by the dermatologist. The treatment is usually done through the use of medications in the form of pills and ointments, in addition to hygiene and skin hydration measures.
It is also important to pay attention to food, giving preference to antioxidant foods and able to keep the skin hydrated. Watch the video and learn how to always have a beautiful and hydrated skin:
