Psoriasis is a chronic disease where skin cells build up quickly, causing discolored or red scaly, painful, and itchy patches on the skin.
It affects the skin, causing skin cells to build up faster than usual.
While psoriasis is not contagious, it affects other organs of the body.
It varies in severity.
News Round The Clock, in this article, gives you in-depth, researched knowledge about the disease.
Psoriasis is caused by inflammation in your skin, which is usually caused by an overreactive immune system.
Note: Psoriasis can also lead to mental stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, as well as depression.
Other diseases linked with psoriasis are:
- Crohn’s disease
- celiac disease
- metabolic syndrome, and
- cardiovascular disease.
Although the disease primarily manifests on the elbows and knees, face and inside of your mouth, scalp, fingernails and toenails, as well as genitals, lower back, and palms and feet, it also manifests and affects the joints.
According to researchers, about 125 million people suffer from the disease worldwide, however, the disease has a rare occurrence in Africa.
Due to its rare occurrence in Africa, only a few studies have investigated the incidence and prevalence in Nigeria.
Research has discovered that only 0.33 percent of people suffer from the disease in the country.
Symptoms of psoriasis include:
- Red, brown, or purple patches of skin
- Patches of thick, raised skin (plaques)
- Itching
- Irritation, burning, or stinging
- Pustules or blisters
- Dry skin that may crack or bleed
- Changes to nails
- Flaking of dead skin
- Worsening of a long-term erythematous scaly area
- Sudden onset of many small areas of scaly redness
- Recent streptococcal throat infection, viral infection, immunization, use of antimalarial drug, or trauma
- Pain (especially in erythrodermic psoriasis and in some cases of traumatized plaques or in the joints affected by psoriatic arthritis)
- Joint pain (psoriatic arthritis) without any visible skin findings
- Conjunctivitis or blepharitis
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- Plaque psoriasis
About 80-90 percent of people are diagnosed with plaque psoriasis, making it the most common type, yet.
To identify plaque psoriasis, look for thick red or purplish patches of skin, often with silvery-white or gray scales on your elbow, knees, lower back, or scalp (plaque’s most common surfaces to attack).
Note: plaque patches are usually around 1- 10 centimetres wide, but can get larger and cover the whole body, this causing extreme pain and worse symptoms when you scratch the scales.
2. Guttate psoriasis
Around 80 percent of people suffer from Guttate Psoriasis, making it the second most common type.
It often starts during childhood or young adulthood while presenting as small, separate, and drop-shaped, often appearing on the torso and limbs, as well as face and scalp.
Guttate presents in small red spots on light skin tones and violet or brown on darker skin tones.
Although the spots for Guttate Psoriasis aren’t as thick as plaque’s, they can develop into plaque psoriasis over time.
Guttate Psoriasis is usually triggered by
- strep throat
- stress
- skin injury
- infection
- medication
3. Inverse or flexural psoriasis
Presents itself in skinfolds, such as the armpits, around the groin, and/or under the breast.
It is often shiny and smooth while appearing red or purple.
This type of psoriasis is usually misdiagnosed as a fungal or bacteria infection because the sweat and moisture from skinfolds keep it from shedding skin scales.
Skin-on-skin contact can make flexural psoriasis unbearable.
Note: Most people suffering with inverse psoriasis also have a different form of psoriasis in other places on their body.
4. Pustular psoriasis
This form of psoriasis can sometimes be severe as it develops quickly into many white pustules surrounded by red or darkened skin.
Pustular psoriasis may affect your hands and feet, covering most of the surface.
Note: pustules also come together to form scales. While this isn’t life-threatening, it could affect all areas of the body, making it a Von Zumbusch subtype, which has severe systemic effects.
The pus is not infectious, but can cause flu-like symptoms such as:
- fever
- chills
- rapid pulse
- muscle weakness
- loss of appetite
There are three kinds of pustular psoriasis, namely: von Zumbusch, palmoplantar pustulosis, and acropustulosis.
Some people experience cyclic periods of pustules and remission, depending on the severity and different symptoms.
5. Erythrodermic psoriasis
This condition is a medical emergency as your body may not be able to manage your body temperature.
It looks bright red on people with lighter skin tones or dark purplish in people with darker skin tones.
It is a rare type of psoriasis that also involves the shedding of the skin.
This is a painful and physically limiting condition, affecting 10-30 percent of its victims.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, that can trigger your body to attack your joints and skin.
It can affect many joints and often becomes quite severe in the hands, however, skin symptoms appear before joint symptoms.
This attack on the joints can cause problems for other organs of the body, such as the lungs, liver, heart, eyes, GI tract (ie stomach and intestines), and kidneys.
Note: There’s currently no cure for this condition.
7. Scalp psoriasis
This type of psoriasis is commonly found in people with plaque psoriasis.
On the one hand, it may only present as severe dandruff for some people, while it may be itchy, extremely painful and very noticeable at the hairline for others.
Scalp psoriasis usually extends, in one large patch or smaller patches, to your neck, face, and ears.
Note: Excessive scratching of the infested scalp by scalp psoriasis can cause hair loss and scalp infections.
The condition may also cause feelings of social stress.
Treatment
There is no definitive cure or treatment for the various types of this disease. However, there are some self-care or at-home remedies to make your days more bearable.
- Spend 15-30 minutes outside taking in sunlight; however, wear sunscreen of about 15 SPF on healthy areas of skin.
- Take a good, long soak in warm water for about 10 minutes; then add a few teaspoons of vegetable oil to the water and soak in it for another 5 minutes before getting out. However, be careful when getting out of the bath as the surface will be slippery.
- To relieve itching, add vinegar to bathwater. The acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria that worsen psoriasis.
- Sprinkle oatmeal products like Aveeno or finely blended oatmeal powder into bathwater.
- After bathing but while the body is still damp, apply an extra-thick layer of moisturising cream to lock in its natural moisture. This helps prevent cracking; however, avoid runny lotion, as these dry up quickly. Aquadrate, Eucerin, or Calmurid are some effective brands of ointment that can help loosen skin scales.
- Use a cream that has camomile in its ingredients.
- Rub a few drops of tea tree oil into psoriasis patches several times a day. However, discontinue use if you have allergic reactions to tea tree oil.
- Apply petroleum jelly to soften and remove scaly patches. Apply as often as necessary. However, discontinue use if you have allergic reactions to it.
- Mix a tablespoon of flaxseed oil into your cereal, yoghurt, or any other food, every day. Flax seed is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which help in blocking arachidonic acid— a chemical (produced by the body) that causes inflammation.
- Ingest oily fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel. These are also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Take 1000mg of fish oil three times a day, after meals. You get polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil which helps to thin the blood. However, consult with your doctor or dermatologist before undergoing this self-care.
- Apply aloe vera gel (by breaking a leaf) several times a day. Aloe has anti-inflammatory compounds, while the gel is made up of magnesium lactate that helps to control itching.
- Avoid scratching red spots on the skin. If you scratch and pick itchy patches, you’re likely to damage your skin, which will only lead to more extensive and painful outbreaks.
- Use an electric shaver instead of a razor to shave leg, face or other body hair. No matter how careful you are, sharp razors nick the skin, increasing the risk of na ew outbreak.
- Care for your scalp by applying special or medicated shampoos (shampoo with coal tar or T Gel) to your scalp for 10 minutes, every day before alternating with regular shampoo, twice a week as symptoms subside.
- Keep a list of all effective shampoos used and rotate them. Scalp psoriasis can build resistance to long-term use of one shampoo, rendering it ineffective.
- Wear your hair in a short style as this is easier to treat and manage the scalp.
- Take regular exercise — mental and otherwise, such as meditation, deep breathing, taking a 30-minute walk, etc.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid products that irritate your skin.
- Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t rub the psoriasis
- Eat a nutritious diet.
- Consult your doctor for the most suitable treatment or management plan for your psoriasis.
Final thought
Psoriasis is a complex and often misunderstood condition that goes beyond just affecting the skin.
Its impact can extend to a person’s joints, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.
While there is currently no known cure, proper management—including lifestyle changes, home remedies, and medical consultation—can significantly ease symptoms and reduce flare-ups.
Understanding the various types, symptoms, and triggers is key to living well with psoriasis.
With the right care and support, individuals with this condition can lead full, healthy, and confident lives.
