Early Stage Psoriasis On Face

Coping And Finding Support

Who said living with a chronic disorder was fun or easy? No one, ever. Psoriasis can have real psychological side effects, such as stress, anxiety, depression, social difficulties, and self-esteem issues.

Fortunately, you never have to deal with this alone! There are loads of ways to get the TLC and mental wellness help you deserve, including trained counselors, peer support groups, and your compassionate family and friends.

Theres bound to be an approach that fits your needs.

Also, consider asking your doctor for a referral to a therapist who specializes in helping people with psoriasis.

When To See A Doctor

If a person is uncertain about whether psoriasis or a different health condition is causing their symptoms, they should see a doctor.

A dermatologist, or skin specialist, will most commonly treat psoriasis. A primary care physician can refer a person to a dermatologist.

People should see their doctor about facial psoriasis symptoms when:

• areas on the face are painful or uncomfortable
• the discomfort makes it difficult to get through the day
• lesions are extending toward the eyes
• they have concerns about their skins appearance
• they are experiencing joint problems as well as facial lesions

Generally, people should see their doctor whenever their psoriasis is causing them problems or when they wish to discuss treatment options.

Are Psoriasis Shampoos Available

Coal tar shampoos are very useful in controlling psoriasis of the scalp. Using the shampoo daily can be very beneficial adjunctive therapy. There are a variety of over-the-counter shampoos available without a prescription. There is no evidence that one shampoo is superior to another. Generally, the selection of a tar shampoo is simply a matter of personal preference.

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How Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Prevents Disease Progression

The primary way to slow the progression of PsA is through medications that modify the immune system. It may take trial and error to find the treatment that works best for a given patient, notes Dr. Haberman. While we have a lot of medication options for PsA, we dont know which ones a patient will respond to, so sometimes we need to try more than one medication to find the one thats right for that patient, she says.

In addition, medications that have been effective for you can stop working over time. If this happens, your doctor may recommend a medication that works differently say, targets a different part of the immune system to control disease activity.

There are many drugs used to treat PsA. The ones that you will use will depend on the type and severity of symptoms as well as the most problematic areas .

Medications use to treat PsA include:

Medical Treatment Topical Agents

The first line of treatment for psoriasis includes topical medications applied to your skin. The main topical treatments are corticosteroids , vitamin D-3 derivatives, coal tar, anthralin, and retinoids. These drugs may lose potency over time, so often they are rotated or combined. Ask your doctor before combining medications, as some drugs should not be combined.

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What Is Facial Psoriasis

Facial psoriasis is a chronic skin condition in which there are one or more, persistent, thickened, red and dry patches on the face.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that may affect any skin site. Facial involvement occurs at some time in about half those affected by psoriasis. Although it is usually mild, facial psoriasis is occasionally very extensive involving the hairline, forehead, neck, ears and facial skin.

It is extremely rare to have psoriasis occurring solely on the face. Most patients also have scalp psoriasis and they may also have moderate to severe psoriasis at other sites.

Patients with facial psoriasis often suffer from psychosocial problems due to the presence of unsightly red, scalyplaques on highly visible areas.

Facial involvement presents as a therapeutic challenge because facial skin is thin, sensitive and more complicated to treat.

Otc Treatments And Home Remedies

In addition to using steroids, rinsing the facial skin with a saline solution can also help reduce discomfort and pain.

Available OTC treatments include:

• tazarotene cream or gel, an off-label treatment that currently has approval for treating acne
• UV light, which a person should only use under a doctors supervision

If psoriasis affects the skin around the eyes, a doctor will advise taking great care when applying medications to the area. This is because many OTC psoriasis treatments can cause damage to the eyes that may lead to the development of glaucoma or cataracts.

That said, doctors sometimes recommend two off-label eczema treatments that may work especially well for treating psoriasis on the face.

These prescription drugs are tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream . People using these medications should apply them very carefully and sparingly, being sure to avoid the eyes.

These medications are unlikely to cause glaucoma. However, using them may lead to uncomfortable side effects, such as a stinging sensation.

In addition to using these topical medications, there are several precautions a person can take to reduce irritation as much as possible. These include:

• using gentle, non-soap cleansers to keep the skin clean
• applying moisturizers often
• regularly putting on sunscreen to reduce the effects of UV radiation

Practicing frequent and thorough self-care can help a person control their facial psoriasis as much as possible.

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Seborrheic Dermatitis: Itchy Scaly Patches

A psoriasis skin rash tends to itch, burn, and feel sore. Patches of psoriasis commonly occur on your knees and elbows. Many people also have scalp psoriasis. The common skin rash seborrheic dermatitis also causes scaly, itchy skin patches. It can occur on your scalp, where it may be called dandruff, or on your face and chest. While doctors don’t know the exact cause of seborrhea, it occurs across the age spectrum, in babies as well as in adults, and is usually treated with creams and lotions.

Home Remedies For Facial Psoriasis

At-home self-care is about the basics — trying not to scratch affected areas, avoiding the things that seem to trigger flare-ups, using cold compresses and moisturizer to soothe affected areas , and keeping up with your treatment.

No supplements or herbal remedies have been proven to treat psoriasis on the face or any other part of the body.

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How Is Psoriasis Treated

Psoriasis is usually treated by a dermatologist . A rheumatologist may also help with treatment. Treatments can include:

• ultraviolet light from the sun or from home or office treatments. But in some children, sunlight can make psoriasis worse.
• creams, lotions, ointments, and shampoos such as moisturizers, corticosteroids, vitamin D creams, and shampoos made with salicylic acid or coal tar
• medicines taken by mouth or injected medicines

A doctor might try one therapy and then switch to another, or recommend combining treatments. It’s not always easy to find a therapy that works, and sometimes what works for a time stops helping after a while.

The Role Of The Dermatologist

The recognition and early treatment of PsA is analogous to that of acne. We are aware of the importance of early recognition of acne and the urgency in treating it aggressively in order to induce remission and prevent further damage. The destruction of the joints in PsA follows the same principle: treat early to prevent the damage. The dermatologist who monitors a psoriatic patient can detect PsA at its earliest stage.

A study by Zanolli and Wikle concluded that a large portion of patients with psoriasis presenting to a dermatologist for treatment were recognized to have coexisting joint complaints and the prevalence of PsA is greater than that identified by a nondermatologist.21

The prevalence of psoriasis is greater than PsA, and psoriasis typically precedes the joint complaints.4,11,22 Therefore, the dermatologist is in a unique position to screen patients with psoriasis for PsA by maintaining a high index of suspicion and close follow-up. In limited cases, consultation with a rheumatologist may be necessary to make the diagnosis of PsA.

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Focusing On People With Psoriasis

Most people with psoriatic arthritis have psoriasis first. For a small percentage of patients, psoriatic arthritis occurs before psoriasis, although most often they will have a first-degree relative with skin psoriasis, notes Dr. Haberman. Still, others have no skin psoriasis or dont notice the psoriasis hidden in areas like the scalp, umbilicus, and gluteal fold.

Read more about the connection between psoriasis and PsA.

Up to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, says Dr. Haberman. The majority of cases begin with the skin condition and then progress to joint pain within seven to 10 years. Recent studies have found that patients with psoriasis who develop severe fatigue, heel pain, and joint pain without overt swelling are more likely to develop PsA.

While we dont yet know which individual patients with psoriasis will go onto develop PsA, researchers have identified a few potential risk factors for the progression of PsA, including:

• Family history of psoriatic arthritis
• Psoriasis that affects the scalp and groin
• Nail involvement in psoriasis, such as nail pitting
• Being overweight or obese. PsA is worse in patients who are overweight and often biologics may not work as effectively in people who are overweight, says Dr. Haberman.
• Smoking
• Age
• Exposure to certain infections
• Physical trauma

What Is Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis is a subtype of psoriasisan autoimmune skin disorder. It affects about 8 to 10% of the more than 8 million Americans with psoriasis. This makes it the second most common form of the disease after plaque psoriasis.

Gutta is the Latin word for a drop of fluid. Guttate psoriasis causes small, drop-like papulesor spots. They are typically raised and red with a silvery, scaly appearance. The spots most commonly show up suddenly on the arms, legs and torso. While the exact cause is not well understood, there are known triggers. The most common one is a strep infection, such as strep throat. However, guttate psoriasis is not contagious and wont spread to others. Other infections, skin injuries, and other triggers can also provoke an episode.

Children, teens, and even young adults are most likely to get guttate psoriasis. There does not seem to be any race or sex differences in its occurrence. Doctors believe genes and other immune system factors may make some people more likely than others to get the disease.

Doctors treat guttate psoriasis with topical ointments, oral medicines, and light therapy. When an active infection is present, may be necessary. Mild cases may go away without treatment. Severe or persistent cases of guttate psoriasis may require medicines to suppress the immune system. Once the symptoms clear, guttate psoriasis may never come back. However, some people have the condition for life or go on to develop plaque psoriasis.

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Early Stages Of Psoriasis Pictures

What Kind Of Doctor Treats Psoriasis

There are several types of doctors who may treat psoriasis. Dermatologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders, including psoriasis. Rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of joint disorders, including psoriatic arthritis. Family physicians, internal medicine physicians, rheumatologists, dermatologists, and other medical doctors may all be involved in the care and treatment of patients with psoriasis.

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Home Treatment For Initial Psoriasis

Baking soda must be taken, it can have a positive effect on the skin, it does not contain hormones or other chemical elements. With the help of baking soda, you can stop inflammation, soften the skin area, clean the affected area, dry the affected area and get rid of flaking.

To make soda water, you need to moisten the gauze in a pre-prepared soda solution. Keep compressed until it cools.

It is recommended to use this effective formula: you need to take 3 pieces of egg yolk, soda water-teaspoon, chicken fat-a cup, tar-5 tablespoons, and chaga-100ml. Processed overnight, so the product is well absorbed and effective.

Therefore, psoriasis must be treated in the initial stage of the disease until the beginning, so that psoriasis will not enter the next stage, nor will it begin to develop and worsen. There are many treatments only a dermatologist can choose them individually.

Acne: Blocked Pores That Lead To Pimples

Some forms of psoriasis appear as pus-filled blisters that may be confused with pimples. Pustular psoriasis forms white blisters that are filled with pus and surrounded by red skin. Far more common than psoriasis, acne also causes a pus-filled pimple eruption. However unlike psoriasis acne is caused by excess oil, blocked pores, and bacteria. Acne is common in teens and young adults and occurs on the face, neck, back, or chest. Pustular psoriasis is usually seen in adults and can occur anywhere on the body, but less likely on the face.

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What If Those Psoriasis Treatments Dont Work

If psoriasis doesnt improve, your healthcare provider may recommend these treatments:

• Light therapy: UV light at specific wavelengths can decrease skin inflammation and help slow skin cell production.
• PUVA: This treatment combines a medication called psoralen with exposure to a special form of UV light.
• Methotrexate: Providers sometimes recommend this medication for severe cases. It may cause liver disease. If you take it, your provider will monitor you with blood tests. You may need periodic liver biopsies to check your liver health.
• Retinoids: These vitamin A-related drugs can cause side effects, including birth defects.
• Cyclosporine: This medicine can help severe psoriasis. But it may cause high blood pressure and kidney damage.
• Immune therapies: Newer immune therapy medications work by blocking the bodys immune system so it cant jumpstart an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis.

Shingles: A Rash And Severe Pain That Lingers

Shingles is another viral infection that shares some symptoms with psoriasis. Like psoriasis, shingles can make your skin burn and itch and produces a red, blistered skin rash. Shingles is caused by the same virus that first brings on chickenpox. The virus stays in your body and can come back years later to cause shingles, especially during times of stress or infection. The skin rash of shingles follows the course of a single nerve, usually on the trunk. In some cases, severe pain lasts long after the burning, itchy rash disappears. Shingles is more common in people over age 50.

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Can Psoriasis Affect Only My Nails

In some cases, psoriasis may involve only the fingernails and toenails, although more commonly, nail symptoms will accompany psoriasis and arthritis symptoms. The appearance of the nails may be altered, and affected nails may have small pinpoint pits or large yellow-colored separations on the nail plate called “oil spots.” Nail psoriasis can be hard to treat but may respond to medications taken for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Treatments include topical steroids applied to the cuticle, steroid injections at the cuticle, or oral medications.

What Can I Do As A Young Person With Psoriasis

Here are some popular home remedies for scalp psoriasis:

• aloe vera cream applied three times a day to the scalp and other effected areas
• apple cider vinegar solution, washing over effected areas
• baking soda and water paste, used to reduce scalp itchiness
• capsaicin cream, used to reduce flaking, redness, and inflammation
• coconut or avocado oil, to moisturize affected areas

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Articles On Psoriasis Locations

Psoriasis on the face is different than on other parts of the body. Your skin there is thinner and may be more sensitive to treatments. In this area, the condition usually affects your:

• Eyebrows
• Skin between your nose and upper lip
• Upper forehead
• Hairline

You have a lot of options for treating psoriasis in these areas. Work closely with your doctor to find what works best for you.

How To Apply Psoriasis Medication On Your Face

Here are a few basic tips:

• Use small amounts.
• Be careful when you apply creams and ointments around the eyes. Some treatments can irritate them.
• Follow your doctorâs instructions for taking the medication so you can prevent side effects, especially with steroids.
• Ask your doctor if you can use makeup to conceal the psoriasis on your face. Some products can prevent treatment from working.
• If your medication doesnât help or causes too many side effects, work with your doctor to figure out a treatment that will help.

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Psoriasis Causes And Risk Factors

Doctors arenât sure what causes psoriasis, but they know that genes and your immune system play a major role. About 40% of people with psoriasis have a close family member with the disease. Many of the genes linked to psoriasis are those that help run your immune system. In addition to your genes, these things can make you more likely to get psoriasis:

• Smoking
• Stress

What Are The Types Of Psoriasis

In children, common types of psoriasis include:

Plaque psoriasis. This is the most common type of psoriasis. It causes plaques and silvery scales, usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. They can be itchy and painful and may crack and bleed.

Guttate psoriasis. This type often shows up after an illness, especially strep throat. It causes small red spots, usually on the trunk, arms, and legs. Spots also can appear on the face, scalp, and ears.

Inverse psoriasis. This causes smooth, raw-looking patches of red skin that feel sore. The patches develop in places where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, buttocks, upper eyelids, groin and genitals, or under a woman’s breasts.

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