More Information About Hypoallergenic Products
To learn more about how to know which ingredients to avoid, please see our Safe Cosmetics Guide.
You can learn more about how to find hypoallergenic products that do not irritate your skin here at our Hypoallergenic Products page.
You can also find our short list of recommended safe skin care products for different skin types. There are several choices including one product line which is showing great promise for healing the skin.
Articles On Types Of Psoriasis
Knowing which kind of psoriasis you have helps you and your doctor make a treatment plan. Most people have only one type at a time. Sometimes, after your symptoms go away, a new form of psoriasis will crop up in response to a trigger.
In general, most types of psoriasis result from the same triggers:
- Diet
- Weather
Here’s how you can spot the 7 types of psoriasis and what you can do to treat them.
Topical Coal Tar: An Old Stand
Coal tar is one of the oldest known treatments for psoriasis. These products are effective in treating mild to moderate psoriasis with few side effects, but can be messy with a pungent odor, and leave stains on clothes and other fabrics.
The exact way that coal tar treats psoriasis is not known. However, it does increase the skin’s absorption of UVB light for an added effect.
Coal tar can be found over-the-counter in shampoos, creams and lotions and can be used in combination with corticosteroids and emollients to soften the skin.
It is also used with ultraviolet-B light in a treatment known as Goeckerman treatment.
- Goeckerman treatment is a course of UV light therapy combined with coal tar for more moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
- It is messy and smelly, but can be effective however, not many doctors offer this treatment The regimen is usually given daily over several weeks at a time.
Read Also: Medicated Shampoo For Psoriasis Uk
Eczema: Red Itchy Irritated Skin
Like psoriasis, eczema is a chronic skin condition that often causes intense itching. Scratching causes redness and inflammation of the skin, leading to a worsening of the eczema. Scratching can also cause a secondary bacterial infection. The most common type of eczema is caused by a reaction to irritants like detergents, soaps, or household cleansers. So if you have eczema, you should be careful to use mild soap and regularly moisturize your sensitive skin. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream or other medications if eczema is severe.
What Are Other Types Of Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. About 80% to 90% of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis.
Other, less common types of psoriasis include:
- Inverse psoriasis appears in skin folds. It may look like thin pink plaques without scale.
- Guttate psoriasis may appear after a sore throat caused by a streptococcal infection. It looks like small, red, drop-shaped scaly spots in children and young adults.
- Pustular psoriasis has small, pus-filled bumps on top of the red patches or plaques.
- Sebopsoriasis typically appears on the face and scalp as red bumps and plaques with greasy yellow scale. This type is a cross between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
Also Check: What Is The Reason For Psoriasis
Heat Rash: Sweating That Leads To Bumpy Red Skin
Inverse psoriasis is a type of psoriasis that forms in the armpits and skin folds under breasts or in groin areas, making the skin red and shiny. Sweating makes this type of psoriasis worse. Heat rash also makes your skin red and forms in skin folds of the groin, breasts, and armpits. Heat rash occurs in hot, humid conditions. Sweating can cause your pores to get blocked and result in a bumpy, red skin rash that stings. Heat rash is more common in newborns, but can also affect older children and adults.
What Does Plaque Psoriasis Look Like
About 80 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. This makes it the most common type of psoriasis.
A plaque psoriasis rash looks like raised patches of thick, inflamed skin. On light skin, it looks red and scaly, often with a layer of silver on top. On skin with more pigment, the plaques look purple, gray, or darker brown and tend to be thicker.
Plaques can develop anywhere but are most likely to appear on your:
- scalp
- knees
- lower back
Plaques also tend to be symmetrical. For example, youre more likely to have plaques on both knees or elbows than on just one side. Other symptoms include:
- itching
2009 study of 1,593 people with psoriasis found that guttate psoriasis affects about 8 percent of people with psoriasis.
You can spot this type of psoriasis rash by small, raised round spots called papules. They sometimes have a scaly appearance. The spots might look red on light skin and purple or brown on skin with more pigment.
Guttate psoriasis can start at any age. For most people, though, it starts in childhood or adolescence. It can develop after an infection, such as strep throat or tonsillitis.
Its most likely to develop on the limbs and torso, though some people get it on the scalp, face, or ears.
Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body. It can develop in just one area, or it can show up in several. For example, theres:
Plaque, inverse, and guttate are the most common types. Others include:
Read Also: Treatment For Psoriasis On Lips
Ringworm: Fungal Infections Of The Skin And Nails
Tinea is a type of fungal infection that resembles some symptoms of psoriasis. Psoriasis can cause the thick fingernails symptomatic of fungal nail infections, and both can cause red, itchy skin rashes. When tinea grows on your skin, it can cause a scaly, red skin rash that clears in the middle, called ringworm . Fungal infections of the skin and nails can be hard to treat. Antifungal medications work, but you may need to take them for a long time.
What Is Scalp Psoriasis And What Causes It
Psoriasis can appear on any part of the skin, even the scalp. With scalp psoriasis, scalp plaques produce excess scales and can cause your scalp to itch.
Symptoms of scalp psoriasis appear as the following:
- A small bump, called a papule, with a scale on top.
- The plaque typically is covered by thick layers of horny scale. When the scale sheds, it can look like dandruff.
- Sometimes these plaques can itch.
- Scratching these plaques can worsen the condition and lead to what’s called the Koebner phenomenon, or isomorphic response, which can cause psoriasis to develop in areas where there’s inflammation and trauma.
The causes of scalp psoriasis, like all psoriasis, is related to genetic defects that affect the immune system. It is not known if stress causes or makes psoriasis worse.
In some severe cases, scalp psoriasis can cause alopecia, or a loss of hair, which is rare and may be controlled with treatment. Scalp psoriasis can be treated with topical medications, which can sometimes be difficult to apply when the scalp is covered with enough hair that can create a barrier.
Read Also: What Helps Psoriasis On Face
Symptoms Of Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis lesions can still be painful and uncomfortable. Skin can feel itchy and irritated. The skin affected by inverse psoriasis is naturally thin and sensitive, and the lesions can cause the skin to grow more tender. Sweat and skin rubbing can result in further irritation. Sometimes creases in the skin folds can crack and break, which also increases the chance of infection. Inverse psoriasis can also increase the chance of yeast or fungal infections in the affected areas due to the moisture and warmth.
Inverse psoriasis is often accompanied by other forms of psoriasis, particularly plaque psoriasis, in other areas of the body. Along with the raised, scaly patches, this may include:
- Itchy, burning, sore skin
Psoriasis Pictures On Body
When psoriasis on body is diagnosed, it means that it can affect any part of it. The only thing, it is proved that psoriasis on legs occurs frequently but still it is possible. The patient can complain of this skin disease in inconvenient places like genitals, bottoms of the feet or armpits where the contact with the injured skin hurts. Here the patches are larger compared to typical areas due to the increased moisture.
Severe forms of psoriasis on body with pain can threaten to life of the patient. The deviation is not possible to get rid of. There is not any remedy curing this chronic autoimmune condition but the pharmacologists created a range of medications releasing pain and easing symptoms. Treating all types of psoriasis is critically important. The symptoms are not only irritating and looking unwell but can cause serious complications.
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How Psoriatic Arthritis Affects The Body
PsA causes a combination of skin and arthritis symptoms. These symptoms are caused by inflammation from an overreactive immune system.
Inflammation is the way the body protects and repairs itself from foreign substances. Characteristics of inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function. Inflammation may cause fevers, joint and muscle pain, extreme fatigue, skin symptoms, and organ dysfunction.
PsA inflammation often affects larger joints and the distal joints of the fingers and toes. The distal joints are the first knuckles at the top of the fingers and toes.
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.
Also Check: Most Common Places For Psoriasis
Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
There are many prescription-strength treatments that are helpful at controlling psoriasis. For mild or moderate cases, medicines applied directly to the skin may be prescribed:
- The mainstay of therapy for psoriasis is topical steroids, either in creams or ointment form. Higher-potency topical steroids are used for the body or scalp, and lower-potency topical steroids are best for the face and skinfold areas. Steroid solutions or liquids can be used on the scalp. Use should be limited to 14 weeks at a time because long-term use of steroids can lead to stretch marks and thinning of the skin.
- Calcipotriene is a vitamin D derivative cream that works as well as steroids, and it is even more effective when combined with topical steroids.
- Tazarotene is a vitamin A-based cream that may be prescribed. Women of childbearing age should be counseled to avoid pregnancy while using tazarotene because this treatment may cause birth defects.
- Topical immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus may also be used, but they can cause skin burning and itching and are expensive. These treatments may possibly increase your risk for skin cancer and lymphoma.
- Coal tar-based therapies and anthralin creams are sometimes used, but they are used less frequently than other treatments because they have an odor, cause skin irritation, and can stain clothing and because neither is any more effective than calcipotriene.
For more extensive psoriasis:
Dry Cracked Skin: Irritation That Can Lead To Infection
Dry, cracked skin is a psoriasis symptom. However, dry air can also cause your skin to become dry and itchy. When the skin is dry and irritated , it’s more likely to get infected. Infection may cause your skin to become red and swollen. If you have any skin rashes that keep coming back or won’t go away, see your doctor. Most cases of psoriasis can be diagnosed with a physical examination but because psoriasis can look like many other skin conditions, a skin biopsy may have to be done to definitively diagnose it.
Read Also: Plaque Psoriasis On Black Skin
Salicylic Acid: A Keratolytic
Salicylic acid is available in both over-the-counter and prescription strengths. It’s known as a “keratolytic”, which means it loosens dead skin from the psoriasis plaque to reduce scaling.
Salicylic acid is available in many different OTC formulations, such as lotions, gels, creams, foams, shampoos and others, to treat both skin and scalp psoriasis.
Salicylic acid can be used in combination with other treatments, like corticosteroid creams, anthralin, or coal tar to increase effectiveness.
- It may take up to several days before your symptoms improve.
- Common side effects of salicylic acid may include skin irritation, peeling, rash, or blanching of the skin area.
Generalised Pustular Psoriasis Or Von Zumbusch Psoriasis
This causes pustules that develop very quickly on a wide area of skin. The pus consists of white blood cells and is not a sign of infection.
The pustules may reappear every few days or weeks in cycles. During the start of these cycles, von Zumbusch psoriasis can cause fever, chills, weight loss and fatigue.
Also Check: Light Therapy Lamp For Psoriasis
Plaque Psoriasis: Red Bumps And Silvery Scales
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the chronic skin condition, affecting about 80 percent of people with psoriasis. Usually starting as small red bumps on the skin, plaque psoriasis develops into red patches with a silvery, scaly coating these raised patches are called plaques. Plaques usually show up on elbows, knees, and the lower back, and they can last for months or even years without treatment.
If You Have Psoriasis There Is Hope
I know this is not a lot of fun to talk about, but bear with me here. My hope is that the information here can help you to reduce or eliminate your chronic psoriasis symptoms!
Now, just to let you know the whole story…
In some rare cases psoriasis can be a life threatening condition. There are two forms of psoriasis that affect the whole body and require immediate medical attention.
Generalized pustular psoriasis includes not only a severe, bright red psoriasis rash but fever, chills, exhaustion, rapid pulse and other symptoms.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis causes a severe, painful, itchy red rash and shedding of the skin. This causes the skin to lose its natural protective effects and so other symptoms develop such as a fluctuating body temperature.
Don’t worry the more severe cases of psoriasis are very rare, and CAN be treated medically.
What does psoriasis look like? Psoriasis affects people of all ages worldwide though it is more common among lighter skinned people. It is a chronic skin condition which sometimes worsens in colder weather.
In some cases psoriasis can affect the joints of the body. This is called psoriatic arthritis and generally will appear in patients who are 30 to 40 years old.
Psoriasis can also appear on the nails as pits or yellow colored separations of the nail.
Also Check: Does Psoriasis Get Worse With Heat
What Does Psoriasis Look Like Psoriasis Pictures
Rina had noticed few red, small, scaly bumps on her hands and legs since the last few months. The eruptions would get crazy itchy! The first thing that came to her mind was psoriasis. Her grandfather had extensive psoriasis which she had witnessed throughout her childhood. Being an IT professional she started searching on the internet what could the diagnosis be
Lets us understand some facts from psoriasis pictures which will help us to know from which type of psoriasis Rina is suffering with.
The most common areas affected in Psoriasis are the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back, although any skin surface may be involved. It can also occur in the nails and body folds.
Presentation of psoriasis can appear different in different people as form, location involved, intensity, extent, duration of disease varies from person to person.Psoriasis patches can range from few spots of dandruff like scaling to major eruptions that covers large areas.Though various types of psoriasis look different they are typically identified by their hallmark appearance.
Stiffness And/or Swelling In The Large Joints
Joint stiffness and swelling are the main symptoms of PsA. These two symptoms can affect any part of the body, but they often affect the large joints of the knees or hips.
Involvement of the large joints can impair activities of daily living in people with PsA. Activities of daily living include things like grooming, bathing, getting dressed, walking and climbing steps, and safety and emergency responses.
Also Check: Does Salt Water Help Psoriasis
How Different Types Psoriasis Looks Like
Plaque psoriasis:
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, affecting 80 percent of people with psoriasis. It often appears on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. It is characterized by dry, thick, red patches on skin known as plaque, often with a silver or white layer of scale.They are often itchy and painful, and they can crack and bleed.
Guttate psoriasis:
Guttate psoriasis appears in small red spots on the skin. It is the second most common form of psoriasis. The spots often appear on the torso and limbs, but they can also occur on the face and scalp. They are usually not as thick as plaque psoriasis, but they may develop into plaque psoriasis over time.Inverse psoriasis
Flexural or inverse psoriasis often appears in skin folds . It is very red and often shiny and smooth. Most people with inverse psoriasis also have a different form of psoriasis in other places on the body.The sweat and moisture from skin folds keeps this form of psoriasis from shedding skin scales, and the skin-on-skin contact can make inverse psoriasis very irritating.
Pustular psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is characterized by white pus filled eruptions surrounded by red skin. Scaling also occurs. Pustular psoriasis may affect isolated areas of the body, like the hands and feet, or cover most of the skins surface. Some people experience cyclic periods of pustules and remission.
Erythrodermic or exfoliative psoriasis
Different parts of the body can also be affected:
Scalp psoriasis: