Psoriasis Can Cause Pigment Changes That Can Last For Months
One of the most common longer-term effects of psoriasis flares is skin discoloration. During a flare, parts of the immune system disrupt the production of melanocytes, the cells responsible for giving skin color.
People with lighter skin tones can experience hypopigmentation, where patches of skin become paler than the surrounding skin. With darker skin tones and skin of color, the issue can also be hyperpigmentation, where patches of skin become darker than the surrounding skin, according to Amy Kassouf, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
The skin tone typically goes back to normal once the inflammation goes away, she notes. However, it can take time, from months to even over a year, for things to completely even out. During that time, it can really look like scarring.
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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.
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed And Treated
Psoriasis often has a typical appearance that a primary care doctor can recognize, but it can be confused with other skin diseases , so a dermatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriasis usually depends on how much skin is affected, how bad the disease is , or the location . Treatments range from creams and ointments applied to the affected areas to ultraviolet light therapy to drugs . Many people who have psoriasis also have serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Some people with psoriasis also have an inflammatory condition which affects their joints, called psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis has many of the same symptoms as other types of arthritis, so a rheumatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis usually involves the use of drugs .
Psoriatic disease may be treated with drugs or a combination of drugs and creams or ointments.
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Evaluation And Differential Diagnosis
Less common variants of psoriasis include inverse psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, and annular psoriasis .6). These variants can be differentiated from the common plaque type by morphology. Differential diagnoses include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, lichen planus, secondary syphilis, mycosis fungoides, tinea corporis, and pityriasis rosea . Careful observation often yields the diagnosis. For more atypical presentations, a skin biopsy might be helpful.
Differential diagnoses and distinguishing clinical features
| DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES | DISTINGUISHING CLINICAL FEATURES |
|---|---|
| Atopic dermatitis | Predominant symptom of pruritus and typical morphology and distribution |
| Contact dermatitis | Patches or plaques with angular corners, geometric outlines, and sharp margins dependent on the nature of the exposure to the irritant or allergen |
| Lichen planus | Violaceous lesions and frequent mucosal involvement |
| Secondary syphilis | Copper-coloured lesions and frequent involvement of palms and soles |
| Mycosis fungoides | Irregularly shaped lesions with asymmetric distribution, peculiar colour, and wrinkling due to epidermal atrophy |
| Tinea corporis | Fewer lesions with annular configuration |
| Pityriasis rosea | Tannish-pink, oval papules and patches with Christmas tree configuration on trunk with sparing of the face and distal extremities |
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Keeping your skin lubricated can go a long way in preventing or worsening dry, itchy skin caused by a psoriasis flare-up. It can also help reduce redness and heal the skin, making your flare-up easier to manage.
The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends using heavy creams or ointments that lock in water. Look for moisturizers that are fragrance-free or alcohol-free. Fragrances and alcohol can actually dry out your skin.
If youre looking for a natural or cost-effective solution, you can use cooking oils or shortening to keep your skin moisturized. When in doubt, ask your dermatologist for a recommendation.
Take shorter showers with lukewarm water to help protect your skins moisture. Be sure to use fragrance-free soaps. Always apply moisturizer after showering, washing your face, or washing your hands.
Add oil to bathwater if you prefer taking baths, or are looking to soothe dry, itchy skin. Soaking in Epsom or Dead Sea salts is recommended for itchy skin. Be sure to limit your bath time to 15 minutes and moisturize immediately afterward.
Try putting your creams or moisturizers in the refrigerator. This can help soothe the burning sensation that often accompanies the itching during a flare-up.
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Healthy Eating And Exercise
People with psoriasis have a slightly higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease than the general population, although it’s not known why. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are recommended for everyone, not just people with psoriasis, because they can help to prevent many health problems.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly can also relieve stress, which may improve your psoriasis.
What Can Treat The Spots That Appear When Psoriasis Clears
What can treat the spots that appear when psoriasis clears?
Board-certified dermatologist Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, explains why dark or light spots appear when psoriasis clears and how to fade them.
Dermatologist Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, explains why dark or light spots appear when psoriasis clears and how to fade them.
All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology gratefully acknowledges the support from Bristol Myers Squibb.
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When To Use Horse Milk For Psoriasis
- You have tried different medicines that do not work, barely work, or not work anymore.
- You take your health seriously and realize that long-term use of medicines can be harmful to your health.
- You want to fight the cause of psoriasis from the inside and not the external symptoms.
- You want a long-term solution to reduce and control psoriasis.
- You have patience and give horse milk at least three months to repair your skin.
- You believe in a different approach to treat psoriasis.
Information
Why Does Psoriasis In Sensitive Areas Sometimes Require Specific Treatments
The absence of scales is most obvious in the skin flexures or folds because the continual friction between the two skin surfaces rubs them off. The enclosed area of a skin fold and the thinness of the skin in sensitive areas can affect the action of topically applied treatments . With both of these factors there is a tendency for an increase in the absorption of the treatment through the skin, thereby enhancing its effect and any adverse side effects, such as skin thinning. In addition, the potential for a cream or ointment to cause irritation is increased when it is applied in a flexure and comes into contact with two skin surfaces that are rubbing together.
For these reasons particular creams and ointments are better than others for use in sensitive areas of the skin. Some others are not recommended at all.
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How To Get Rid Of White Spots After Psoriasis
Anyone who has psoriasis knows the thrill to realize that the flare is going into remission.
One of the most obvious signs is the white spots on the skin where the dreaded plaques once were present.
Find out how can you tell that your psoriasis is going into remission and the most common questions about it.
Diet And Psoriasis: What’s The Connection
Can your diet help keep psoriasis under control? Maybe. An observational study published online July 25, 2018, by JAMA Dermatology found that people with psoriasis who followed a Mediterranean diet an eating pattern rich in fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, fruit, nuts, and extra-virgin olive oil experienced fewer severe flare-ups. This was only an association and more research is needed, but experts believe the Mediterranean diet contains many foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and may offer extra protection against psoriasis triggers.
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There Are Ways To Shorten Flare
Psoriasis is a big star on TV drug ads, but this autoimmune skin disease is something most people try to keep well hidden.
“Psoriasis is among the most common skin conditions, affecting about 2% of the U.S. population, and while the condition doesn’t affect everyone the same way, the approach to treatment and prevention is often similar,” says Dr. Gideon Smith, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
Spectrum Of Treatment Options
Although psoriasis presents differently on various skin types, color doesnât necessarily determine treatment options. Patients should consult with their health care providers to personalize their treatment plans. Creams, ointments and topical steroids are typically the first line of defense against psoriasis, while more severe cases require more aggressive therapies.
âWhen people of color present with psoriasis, especially African-American patients, they often have more hyperkeratotic, or thicker-scaled lesions,â says McMichael. âThat means the lesions are going to take a longer time to control, with medication at higher potency levels.â
If creams donât help, phototherapy can be very effective for people with darker skin pigment, she says, noting the lack of research on treatment for skin of color, as most studies predominantly feature white patients. That situation is changing, however. In 2017, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute awarded an $8.6 million contract to one of Takeshitaâs colleagues, Joel Gelfand, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist whose clinical work focuses on general dermatology and psoriasis. The PCORI contract is for a clinical trial called LITE. The purpose of LITE is to study the effectiveness and safety of 12 weeks of home-based versus office-based phototherapy for the treatment of psoriasis, and the effects of phototherapy across skin tones.
Aimee Perez
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What To Avoid With Psoriasis
Drinking alcohol, even in small amounts, can harm psoriasis and its treatments. It can increase the severe and harmful side effects of some medications, worsen psoriasis, or cause flare-ups.
With psoriasis, you should also pay attention to what you eat. Try to reduce processed foods and refined sugars in your diet when you have psoriasis. An excess of sugars can not only fuel inflammation, but it also contributes to weight gain, and research shows that overweight psoriasis worsens.
Psoriasis and stress go hand in hand. Learning to handle stress in your life can help prevent psoriasis attacks. Relaxation exercises like meditation and yoga can relieve daily stress and psoriasis symptoms.
Skip Shaving During Flares
Shaving with psoriasis can worsen areas of plaques and lead to scars, especially for people affected by the Koebner phenomenon, a reaction that causes new plaques to form on the site of a skin infection or injury. Even shaving an area where the skin is normal can be risky because you might cause a small abrasion and the psoriasis may then jump to that area, explains Kassouf.
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Skin Care Products To Try For Facial Psoriasis
Finding a skin care routine that helps with your facial psoriasis is key, although you may have to experiment a bit with different products to perfect it.
In addition to discussing prescription creams with your doctor, you may find it helps to use an over-the-counter emollient. These soothe the skin and can create a barrier of oil to protect your skin from drying out.
Humectants, like glycerin and aloe vera, can also help hydrate your skin.
You may also want to look for products with salicylic acid, which can help your skin shed psoriasis scales, or coal tar, which can reduce itching and inflammation.
Stop Smoking And Limit Alcohol
Smoking can trigger flares. Talk to your doctor to help you decide the best way to quit. For some, nicotine patches make psoriasis worse.
Heavy drinking can also trigger symptoms. It can even be dangerous when combined with some psoriasis drugs. If you drink, keep it moderate — thatâs up to one drink a day for women or two for men.
Show Sources
National Psoriasis Foundation: “Faqs: Questions About Lifestyle And Living With Psoriasis,” “Mild Psoriasis: Over the Counter ,” “For Teens: Lifestyle Factors and Social Life,” “Ask the Expert,” “Phototherapy.”
The Psoriasis Association: “Frequently Asked Questions.”
American College of Physicians. Complete Home Medical Guide, DK Publishing Inc., 2003.
Psoriasis Net: American Academy of Dermatology: “Psoriasis Triggers.”
Cram, D. Coping With Psoriasis. Addicus Books Inc., 2000.
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Will I Have White Spots From Psoriasis For The Rest Of My Life
As long as there is a possibility for a Psoriasis outbreak occur, there will be a chance for white spots to appear.
Although these are not the best news, there is always ways to mitigate the appearance of Psoriasis. That alone can be an uplifting relief.
Everyday more and more discoveries are being made regarding new treatments for Psoriasis.
You can already increase the quality of your life with the actual existing treatments, but the prevision is that this scenario will only get better from this point forward.
White spots caused by psoriasis can be overwhelming, but generally they are a positive sign.
They will not flake or itch as opposed to white patches, and it is a clear indicator that inflammation is no longer present.
With that, you shouldnt worry too much. White spots are only temporary, and eventually, your skin will recover its uniform color.
Stay in tune with it, and the rest will follow.
Different Shades Of Psoriasis
When Teddleton began breaking out with small bumps on her arms and elbows, the doctor on the Army base where she worked thought it was a reaction to the solvents and other chemicals she used to preserve vehicle parts in her job. He gave her a cream and reassigned her. But the bumps kept getting worse. Teddletonâs primary care physician conducted allergy tests and gave her more creams and antibiotics. Nothing helped. By then, her skin was inflamed from her scalp to her feet, even inside her mouth.
Delores Teddleton
Severe pain and itching eventually landed her in the emergency room. Finally, after blood work and a biopsy, a dermatologist diagnosed her psoriasis at age 21. âI suffered a lot of years with it. All would give me were creams, and it would get worse,â says Teddleton, who lives in Long Beach, Mississippi. âIt was probably because they hadnât seen people of color with psoriasis before. When I got on the computer to research it, I never saw people of color with it. It was always pictures of Caucasians.â
Psoriasis is often more severe on skin of color. In 2011, the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology published a study of racial and ethnic variations among 2,511 psoriasis patients and found that Asians had the highest percentage of body surface area affected at 41 percent, and Caucasians had the lowest at 28 percent.
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When Should You See A Doctor
If home remedies do not work and you want to get rid of the red spots quickly, visit a dermatologist and opt for professional skin treatments like an AHA or BHA chemical peel.
You may have to visit a dermatologist if the red marks have been on your skin since birth . These are a result of genetic factors. In such cases, it is very difficult to fade or lighten these red spots naturally. Cosmetic procedures are the only way to remove these spots.
The use of medicines, ointments, skin creams like calamine, laser treatments, surgical options, and other medical and clinical alternatives are helpful in treating, lightening, and removing these unwanted red spots from the body.
Also, if the red spots on the skin are accompanied by fever, fatigue, swelling, breathing trouble, pain, or pus, it is best to seek medical attention at the earliest.
Stay On Top Of Scalp Irritation And Itching
Try to resist the urge to scratch or rub your scalp during a flare-up. Doing so can cause bleeding, scabbing, and even hair loss.
Avoid using shampoos containing fragrance and alcohol. These products can dry out the scalp and worsen or even cause more flare-ups. When washing your hair, be gentle. Avoid scratching or scrubbing your scalp.
A scale softener that contains salicylic acid can help soften and loosen patches of psoriasis plaque during a flare-up.
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Ways To Treat Psoriasis Naturally
Guest writer for Wake Up World
Psoriasis is a common, chronic relapsing/remitting immune-mediated skin condition believed to be caused by an overload of toxicity through diet, some medications or our environment. It is characterized by red or white scaly patches and plaques, which usually itch. The condition affects up to five percent of the general population.
The causes of psoriasis are not fully understood, but a build up of toxins is known to be strongly correlated with most cases, especially for plaque psoriasis which is the most common type.
Not only are psoriasis flare-ups aggravating, but they make many people with the condition so self-conscious about their appearance that theyre reluctant to go out in public without ample covering. Probably most frustrating of all is that theres no magic formula to cure the condition indefinitely. You have to learn how to deal with flare-ups as they come, and take good care of yourself and your skin.
The good news is that is can be reversed through many different natural remedies, most of which should resolve the symptoms before ever requiring medication. Here are 12 effective natural remedies most found in your kitchen to help treat psoriasis discomfort, plus some simple everyday changes you can make to help prevent outbreaks.