How To Stop Plaque Psoriasis

Is Psoriasis The Same As Eczema

Psoriasis and eczema are two different skin conditions. They differ in where the disease appears on the body, how much it itches and how it looks. Eczema tends to appear more often behind the knees and inside the elbows. Eczema also causes more intense itching than psoriasis. Many people, especially children, can get both eczema and psoriasis.

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.

RELATED: Overcoming a Psoriasis Flare

What Is Psoriasis Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes plaques, which are itchy or sore patches of thick, dry, discolored skin.

While any part of your body can be affected, psoriasis plaques most often develop on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet.

Like other autoinflammatory diseases, psoriasis occurs when your immune system which normally attacks infectious germs begins to attack healthy cells instead.

Also Check: What Helps Psoriasis Flare Ups

Treat At The First Sign Of A Flare

Dont wait until your symptoms are really affecting you to start treating a flare-up: As soon as you notice a change in your skin that could signal an oncoming flare , its time to act, Dr. Stein says. Apply a topical steroid as directed and try to take it easy.

Also, its important not to stop treatment until youre completely free of symptoms, Dr. Stein says, even if the flare appears to be going away. In my opinion, it comes back faster if its not completely clear to begin with, she explains.

Dandruff Vs Psoriasis Flakes

While psoriasis flakes arent actually different than dandruff , in many ways they can be more distressing, as they tend to be more intense, says Dr. Bressack. Some patients experience severe shedding of large flakes on their scalp or the areas of their body where their psoriasis flares. Flakes are, however, usually less noticeable on the body than the scalp, he says.

What causes skin to flake in dandruff versus in psoriasis is very different. Psoriasis flakes are the result of your overactive immune system speeding up the rate at which your skin cells grow, causing skin cell buildup or plaques that then may flake off. Garden-variety dandruff, on the other hand, can occur for a number of reasons, including skin that is too dry or oily, a fungal infection, or sensitivity to hair care products.

Treating psoriasis flakes with dandruff-oriented products alone may not work. You need medications that address the root cause of psoriasis with the appropriate topical, biologic, or systemic treatments.

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Psoriasis Skin Flakes: What Are They

Flakes in psoriasis are the dead cells at the outer layer of the skin that are being shed, saysMitchell Bressack, MD, a dermatologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago who specializes in treating psoriasis. The outer layer of the skin normally turns over every 28 days, which means that it takes about a month for the bottom layer of cells to make their way to the top.

In people with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, however, the cells at the base of the epidermis multiply more rapidly than normal and they progress from the base of the epidermis to the surface more rapidly than normal, so theres an increase in the number of dead cells being shed from the surface of the skin on a daily basis, Dr. Bressack says. This appears as scales, which can flake off in large pieces.

What Are Plaque Psoriasis Symptoms And Signs

The characteristic signs and symptoms of psoriasis are small scaly, red bumps. These bumps generally join together into elevated plaques of skin and most often are visible on the elbows, knees, and scalp, although any area of skin can be involved. Frequently, these plaques are quite itchy. Rarely, most of the patient’s skin surface is affected.

Plaque Psoriasis: Symptoms And Causes

Despite various kinds of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis is the most common type of this skin disorder. This plaque may appear on several body parts, such as elbow, knee, back, face, and scalp. A plaque psoriasis is signed by the occurrence of raised red patches with white dead skin flakes. With severe psoriasis, these patches and flakes might break and cause bleeding. Like other kinds of psoriasis, a plaque psoriasis is caused by fast growth of new skin cells. This growth causes excessive skin cells which turn into skin flakes. Psoriasis susceptibility might have been inside some individuals and might be triggered to appear when these people experience immune system dysfunction.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies For Psoriasis Treatment

• Sesame Seeds Soak 15-20 sesame seeds in a cup of water. Leave it for overnight then drink on this Sesame water empty stomach in the morning. Repeat this remedy until you get rid of psoriasis.
• Bitter Gourd Juice Extract 1-2 cup of fresh bitter gourd juice and drink empty stomach in the morning. Repeat this remedy for 5-6 months. You can add one tablespoon of lemon juice if you dont like the taste.

Try A Moisturizer With A Keratolytic Ingredient

For particularly thick plaques, Dr. Newsom suggests applying a lotion that contains a keratolytic, or a softening and peeling agent, like salicylic acid, lactic acid, or urea. That will help dissolve some of the scales. For instance, check out CeraVe Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream, $19, or Gold Bond Ultimate Psoriasis Relief Cream, $8.

However, note these ingredients, particularly salicylic acid, can irritate the skin, exacerbate dryness, and in extreme cases be toxic. So be sure to use keratolytic moisturizers as directed and only on the thickest plaques rather than across large swaths of skin.

What Are The Types Of Psoriasis

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 are in places where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, buttocks, upper eyelids, groin and genitals, or under a girl’s breasts.

Avoid Scrapes Cuts Bumps And Infections

It’s extra important for people with psoriasis to avoid bumps and cuts. Trauma to the skin can cause a flare, a condition called “Koebner’s phenomenon.” Infections can also cause problems. Be especially careful when shaving. Avoid acupuncture, tattoos, and do your best to prevent insect bites and chafing. Get more information on Koebner’s phenomenon and psoriasis.

Treatment For Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasisand some other kinds of psoriasis cannot be removed permanently. There is always a chance for this disease to reappear. With mild psoriasis, creams and ointments containing salicylic acid or some hydrocortisone ones are safe topical medications which can help reducing the effects of plaque psoriasis. Gentle sunbathing is also proven to be beneficial in treating mild psoriasis. However, with topical medications, flakes might harden and cause bleeding when removed. Therefore, you have to be cautious and keep the affected areas clean in order to avoid possible infection.

With more severe plaque psoriasis, stronger medications might be needed. Healing from inside by taking some antibiotics can also be done. However, as medications sometimes give unwanted side effects, some people prefer using more natural home remedies to heal psoriasis infection.

Treatment For Weeping Psoriasis

Weeping psoriasis is very distressing for the patient. Patient seldom bears the distressful oozing and itching caused by this disease. Cure is not permanent. However, there is a period of flare up and remission. During remission patient feels better. It is only during the flare up some palliative treatment helps to decrease the melody.

Steroids and local creams are conventional line of treatment generally given by dermatologists. Patient needs to be impressed upon to take the medicines regularly until the last lesion has disappeared.

Few dietary tips and home remedies are valuable in cases of weeping psoriasis.

• Patient should avoid eating fast and junk food. He should stay away from fried food, red meat, sugar, and white flour.
• If you are obese, reduce your weight as research by some workers has suggested increase in flare ups in obese patients.
• Eat plenty of vegetables as it contains vitamins and minerals that help to boost the immune system. One of the reasons suspected is related to auto immune problem.
• Fish, flax-seed, fat free milk, lean meat is tolerable in most patients.
• Avoid alcohol as drinking alcohol is known to aggravate the condition and increase the rate of flare ups.
• Avoid food that causes allergies. If you are allergic to particular food, you should avoid it completely to reduce flare ups.
• Avoid citrus fruits.

Are There Complications Of Psoriasis

In some people, psoriasis causes more than itchiness and red skin. It can lead to swollen joints and arthritis. If you have psoriasis, you may be at higher risk of:

• Use medicated shampoo for scales on your scalp.

Other steps you should take to stay as healthy as possible:

• Talk to your healthcare provider about lowering your risk for related conditions, such as heart disease, depression and diabetes.
• Lower your stress with meditation, exercise or seeing a mental health professional.

Stress Lack Of Sleep And Other Lifestyle Factors

Some patients will report that certain dietary habits or stress make skin flaking worse, while others say that those factors have no impact. For example, in one study published in 2015 in the journal BMC Dermatology about half of patients surveyed said that stress caused psoriasis to get worse and could pinpoint a stressful period of their life that was linked to the onset of their disease.

The thing about psoriasis is that it has a mind of its own, says Dr. Wechsler. Psychological stress and lack of sleep certainly can make a flaking flare worse. Theres a vicious cycle where the symptoms of the disease make you stressed, anxious, and down, and you dont sleep as well. That, in turn, compromises skin healing, and the cycle repeats, she says.

Treatments To Stop Psoriasis From Spreading

If you donât want your small skin patch to become larger, and you donât want more psoriasis patches to show up on your body, then you should start on a psoriasis treatment plan. This may include:

Topical steroids. Also known as corticosteroids, these are some of the most common medications for mild to moderate psoriasis. Topical means you apply the medication to your skin. Topical steroids are available as an ointment, cream, lotion, gel, foam, spray, solution, or shampoo.

Other topical therapies. Steroids arenât the only topical medications that can get your psoriasis patches under control. Others include:

• Coal tar and anthralin

Light therapy. When you expose your psoriasis patches to certain types of light, they may shrink, fade, or go away. Light therapy is a first-line treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis.

Steroid shots. Doctors can treat stubborn psoriasis patches with a steroid shot directly into the inflamed skin.

Pills. There are a few types of pills that can lower your bodyâs production of skin cells:

• Methotrexate , which stops cell growth
• , a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that blocks cells that cause inflammation
• Acitretin , a retinoid, which may stop cells from growing as fast
• Cyclosporine, which suppresses your immune system

Youâll need to tell your doctor about any plans to become pregnant or breastfeed before you start these.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Psoriasis

The signs and symptoms usually depend on the type of psoriasis you have.

• Plaque type: This is the most common and mildest type of psoriasis. Plaques are reddened patches covered with silver-colored scales. Your knees, elbows, scalp, stomach, and back are usually affected. You may also have nail changes, such as pitting, thickening, or lifting of the nails off the nail bed.
• Guttate type: This type is the most common among children and young adults. It usually happens after a sore throat or other infections. This type looks like red, raised, pea-sized drops on your skin.
• Inverse type: The plaques appear as smooth red patches and are often found in the moist areas of your body. It affects skin in the armpits, groin, under breasts, and around the genitals.
• Erythrodermic type: This is a rare and severe type of psoriasis in which plaques cover large areas of the skin. These areas itch and are painful.
• Pustular type: Pustules or pimple-like lesions may appear on large red areas of the skin. Sometimes this type is limited to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
• Psoriatic arthritis: Some people who have psoriasis may also develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis makes your joints swollen and painful. You may also have nail changes, such as pitting, thickening, or lifting of the nails off the nail bed.

Tablets Capsules And Injections

If your psoriasis is severe or other treatments have not worked, you may be prescribed systemic treatments by a specialist. Systemic treatments work throughout the entire body.

These medications can be very effective in treating psoriasis, but they all have potentially serious side effects. All the systemic treatments for psoriasis have benefits and risks. Before starting treatment, talk to your doctor about your treatment options and any risks associated with them.

If you’re planning for a baby, become pregnant or are thinking of breastfeeding, you should also speak to your doctor first before taking any new medicine to check it’s suitable for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

There are 2 main types of systemic treatment, called non-biological and biological .

What Are Possible Complications Of Psoriasis

In some cases, psoriasis also causes arthritis. This is known as psoriatic arthritis. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Psoriasis can raise your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and lymphoma. People with psoriasis are also more likely to have emotional stress and depression. Severe psoriasis can lead to erythroderma. In that condition, the skin all over the body is red and inflamed.

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.

How To Treat Plaque Psoriasis

Theres currently no cure for plaque psoriasis . But there are a ton of treatment options to help soothe those itchy patches and help you get through the day.

Take your time finding the treatment thats best for you. It may take some trial and error.

Most people with psoriasis can treat the symptoms at home. A quick slather of moisturizer and a short blast in the sun may be enough for some people . But you may also need medical treatment.

Its best to talk with a doctor or dermatologist who can help work out the best treatments for you.

The Mental Burden Of Skin Flakes In Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis

You dont need a medical study to tell you that scaling and flaking is bothersome, but the evidence exists nonetheless: 65 percent of patients rank flaking, peeling, and shedding on their body as one of the top three most distressing symptoms they experience, per research published in The Journal of Dermatological Treatment.

The problem with any skin disease is that its on the outside. You have to deal with how the world is interacting with you and your skin disease. It can cause a lot of pain and suffering, says Amy Wechsler, MD, who is board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry and author of the book The Mind-Beauty Connection. For instance, if psoriasis flakes are on your hands, you may be worried about shaking hands in work or social settings to say hello.

The challenge then becomes controlling and responding to flares, cleaning up flakes, and explaining them to friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Generally, the more widespread the disease, or the more difficult it is to cover up, the greater the effect it has on quality of life, says Dr. Bressack.

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed

There arent any special tests to help doctors diagnose psoriasis. Typically, a dermatologist will examine your skin and ask about your family history.

Youll likely be given a diagnosis based on this physical exam.

In some situations, doctors will remove a small sample of the skin and examine it under a microscope. This might allow them to get a better look at the affected area and make a more accurate diagnosis.

Key Points About Psoriasis

• Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition. It causes inflamed, red, raised areas of skin that often develop dry, silvery scales called plaques.

• Psoriasis is not contagious. It is an autoimmune skin disease.

• Psoriasis is a long-term disease. You will have flare-ups that come and go over time.

• There is no cure, but treatments can help relieve symptoms. Treatment can include creams, light therapy , and oral or injected medicine.

• Psoriasis is a chronic condition. But you can manage it by working with your healthcare provider to create a long-term treatment plan and self-care routine.