What Causes Psoriasis In Children

There Can Be Overlap Between Eczema And Psoriasis

• Still in some children, its hard to tell the difference. In this case, a dermatologist might diagnose the child with psoriasiform dermatitis.

• Sometimes, a child has both eczema and psoriasis, so there can be some overlap.

• A dermatologist, however, will generally be able to differentiate between these two relatively common skin disorders.

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology

Incidence Of Psoriasis In Children

Psoriasis is quite common in children. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation , each year an estimated 20,000 children under age 10 years are diagnosed in the United States.

Most people experience their first psoriasis episode between ages 15 and 35 years old, but it can develop in children much younger and in adults much older. According to the NPF, around one-third of adults with psoriasis say their symptoms began when they were under 20 years old.

For some children, psoriasis symptoms may become less severe and less frequent as they grow older. Others may continue to deal with the condition throughout their lives.

Healthcare professionals can typically tell whether a person has psoriasis by looking at their skin. During a physical examination, a healthcare professional might ask:

• which symptoms your child is experiencing
• whether theyre having joint pain, which could indicate juvenile psoriatic arthritis
• which medications your child is taking
• whether theres a family history of psoriasis
• whether your child has been exposed to any of the common triggers of psoriasis

Diagnostic tests are not usually necessary, but in some cases, a biopsy may be performed. A healthcare professional can use the biopsy results to help them distinguish between psoriasis and similar-looking conditions, such as eczema.

Currently, theres no cure for psoriasis. Treatment focuses on easing symptoms when they occur and helping prevent or reduce the severity of flare-ups.

What Are The Clinical Features Of Genital Psoriasis

Psoriasis of the external genitalia and perianal area often presents as well-demarcated, bright red, thin plaques. These usually lack scale, as friction between the skin surfaces rubs it off. Scales may be seen on the outer parts of the genital skin. Scales can be easily scraped off, leaving pinpoint bleeding.

In women, vulval psoriasis appears symmetrical. It can vary from silvery, scaly patches adjacent to the labia majora to moist, greyish plaques or glossy red plaques without scaling in the skin folds.

In men, the penis and scrotum may be involved. The glans penis, the bulbous part of the end of the penis, and the corona are most commonly affected. In circumcised men, plaques can be more scaly than on the rest of the genital skin. In uncircumcised men, nonscaling plaques are more common.

Psoriatic napkin eruption presents as red and sometimes silvery plaques with well-defined borders in the nappy area of children under the age of 2 years. It usually clears up after a few months to a year, but may later generalise into plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis in genital areas can be very itchy at times. The plaques may also be fissured and painful.

Psoriasis does not lead to scarring. The skin can return to a normal appearance with treatment or spontaneously.

See images of genital psoriasis.

Also Check: What Does Psoriasis Scalp Look Like

What Is Psoriatic Arthritis In Children

Psoriatic arthritis is a rare form of arthritis or joint inflammation that affects both skin and joints. Psoriasis is an ongoing condition that causes a red, scaly, itchy rash. It also causes nails to become thick and pitted with tiny holes.

Psoriatic arthritis causes painful joint pain and swelling, along with skin rashes. It most often affects finger and toe joints. But it can also affect wrists, knees, ankles, and the lower back.

This condition is most common in adults ages 30 to 50. But it can start in childhood. In many cases, the skin disease starts before the arthritis.

Early diagnosis and treatment helps to ease pain and prevent joint damage from getting worse.

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.

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What Is Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin and nail disease characterized by red, scaly rashes and thick, pitted fingernails. About one-third of children with psoriasis will have psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and is characterized by chronic joint inflammation and swelling, as well as an increased risk for asymptomatic eye inflammation.

Psoriatic arthritis accounts for approximately 6 percent of all cases of juvenile arthritis.

Contact Sonas For Home Health Care In Florida

It can be hard to balance your time between work, home, and caring for a child. Thats why our team of skilled professionals at Sonas Home Health Care is here to help.

Our home health care services offer support in the comfort of your home. We refer loving and competent nurses to provide customized care for families from a few hours a day to around-the-clock supervision. Contact us directly to speak with a home health care professional or request a free in-home assessment. Together we can determine the best plan of action to keep your loved ones happy and healthy.

If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Health Care Services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today at .

Recommended Reading: How To Stop Plaque Psoriasis

How To Treat Psoriasis Naturally

These can be efficiently utilized to prevent flare-ups and control milder cases. Using phototherapy can be as simple as making sure to get enough sunlight. However, more chronic and severe cases may need to seek out light therapy in a specialized clinic.

Water is an excellent tool for a variety of conditions, including psoriasis. Many patients utilize bath solutions, such as oils, salts from the Dead Sea, and even simple Epsom salts, to shed skin scales and ease the uncomfortable itching that often plagues those with this condition. After soaking, it’s just as important to moisturize the skin. While this will not make the condition disappear, it can provide temporary relief while reducing stress and inflammation.

Aloe vera is another versatile gift from the Earth that can come in handy for those with psoriasis. Its well-known cooling and moisturizing effects can nourish the cracked and irritated skin, reducing redness and promoting healing.

However, a far lesser-known trick comes from an unlikely source: the hot and spicy cayenne pepper. These have been used medicinally across the world throughout the ages to relieve pain, and are most effective when incorporated into a gel or cream. Nonetheless, because they contain the heat-producing ingredient capsaicin, these products can cause a burning sensation, so be sure to avoid contact with the eyes, washing the hands after use.

Diagnosing Psoriasis In Children

A dermatologist can diagnose psoriasis by visually examining a childs skin and asking parents about family history. Once psoriasis is diagnosed, the treatment can commence. In the majority of cases, all types of psoriasis in children can be kept at bay without hindering the quality of the childs life.

Psoriasis symptoms are similar to eczema symptoms. Parents often mistake one for another and start the wrong treatment. Its vital to get a doctors opinion before treating psoriasis in children.

Also Check: Dr Blaine’s Revitaderm Psoriasis Treatment Reviews

Treatment For Psoriasis In Children

As of now, there is no specific cure for psoriasis, and treatment options aim at gradually subsiding the symptoms. Since psoriasis is a relapsing disorder, you might need a long-term treatment plan. There are various treatment options available, and your doctor will suggest the best course of action based on your childs symptoms and severity of the case.

Here are a few details about some of the treatment options available. These treatments might help reduce the symptoms of mild to severe psoriasis.

Topical treatments are said to be effective with fewer side effects, but might have to be applied multiple times throughout the day. Petroleum jelly helps to keep the skin moist and prevent psoriasis. So, explain the situation to your child and remind them to apply the medication on time. You can also use electronic reminders to schedule the timings in a day.

Get The Most Out Of Treatment

To make sure your child’s treatment has the best chance to succeed:

Find the right doctor. Look for one who regularly treats children with psoriasis. This is usually a dermatologist. Make sure you can talk with them easily. If they donât ask for your input on what you see happening with your child, find a new doctor.

Stick to a plan. Talk to your child about how important it is to stick to the treatment schedule. You may need to apply medication a couple of times a day. Remind your child that it can take time for the treatment to work. They should take an active role in their treatment as early as possible. Even first-graders can put on moisturizers, and older kids can take full control.

Pick the right therapy. Think about your child’s age and schedule. Work with the doctor to find a therapy that works best for them.

Talk straight. Choose your words carefully when talking with your child about covering up. Some kids get used to wearing long sleeves year-round. But you donât want your child to feel like theyâre always hiding.

Build connections. Look for groups or message boards online, or ask your child’s doctor about face-to-face support groups. You can also check out summer camps for kids with skin conditions. They’re all great ways to get support, learn practical tips, and build confidence. And that goes for you, too. A chat with other parents who have kids with psoriasis can give you new insights and strategies.

Also Check: Is It Ok To Swim With Psoriasis

Plaque Psoriasis In Children

Plaque psoriasis in children is the most common type of this condition. Its the most widespread type of psoriasis in adults as well. Plaque psoriasis shows up as red, dry, and elevated skin patches, which cause itching and burning sensations. The rashes are covered with whitish and silvery scales.

The patches may crack and bleed, causing children discomfort. The plaque psoriasis treatment in children includes skin moisturizing, prescription steroid creams, oral medication, UV light therapy or a combination of several approaches. Avoiding triggers is an integral part of any psoriasis therapy regardless of the type.

In children, this type of psoriasis often develops in the scalp area. Scalp psoriasis in children may be mistaken for cradle cap, which is a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis.

How Can Parents Help

For some children, psoriasis is just a minor inconvenience. For others, it is a difficult medical condition.

To manage symptoms and make outbreaks less likely, your child should:

• Wash hands well and often and stay away from people who are sick to prevent infections.
• Manage stress through exercise, yoga, or meditation.
• Not smoke or drink alcohol.
• Keep a healthy weight. People who are overweight tend to have more severe psoriasis symptoms.

Kids and teens with psoriasis may feel uncomfortable with the way their skin looks. Help your child understand that psoriasis is common and treatments can help.

Whether your child’s psoriasis is mild or severe, learn about the condition together. Offer to help find a therapist or join a support group if that might help. Talk to your doctor or check websites like:

What Are The Treatments For Psoriasis In Children

Generally those used in children are the same as for adult psoriasis, although there may be dosage differences and some products might not have a licence for use in children.Go to treatment section for full list.

In general, doctors try to control psoriasis in children with topical treatments because they are the safest. Occasionally they may use UV light or systemic treatments. The therapeutic needs of each individual, child or adult, are different. Your doctor is in the best position to decide what is the best treatment for you or your child. He will always come to that decision by weighing up the relative risks and benefits involved in each possible treatment. Once you and your child have agreed a treatment plan with your doctor it is important to follow it through even though it can be hard work and frustrating. Medicines can only be effective if they are used according to instructions.

What’s The Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis

• Children get eczema. They can also get psoriasis.

• While more children develop eczema than psoriasis, almost 1% of children have psoriasis.

• Its not always easy to tell whether a child has eczema or psoriasis. A study conducted in Australia found that most children who had psoriasis were initially diagnosed by their primary care doctor as having another disease, often eczema.

• To a dermatologists trained eye, psoriasis and eczema tend to look quite different.

What Causes Scalp Psoriasis

Regardless of where psoriasis forms, the cause is the same. Psoriasis develops when a persons immune system has faulty signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly. New skin cells form in days rather than weeks. The body does not shed these excess skin cells. The skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin, causing patches of psoriasis to appear.

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed

Doctors usually diagnose psoriasis by examining the skin, scalp, and nails. They’ll also ask whether someone else in the family has psoriasis and if the child recently had an illness or started taking a new medicine.

Rarely, doctors might take a skin sample to check more closely. A biopsy can tell the doctor whether it’s psoriasis or another condition with similar symptoms.

What Is The Best Clothing To Wear

Loose fitting cotton clothing is probably the most comfortable, especially during the summer months. If wearing synthetic clothing such as football tops, these could be worn over cotton clothing so as to avoid any possible irritations.It is best sometimes to be guided by your child and how their skin feels during a flare-up.

Some topical treatments can be messy, and some can cause staining, and so this needs consideration when wearing good clothing, and indeed sitting on household furnishings. Always read product/patient instruction leaflets before use. Set aside some old clothes, night bedding, etc if you are to be using messy treatments.

How To Treat Psoriasis

Although psoriasis is an incurable condition, there are ways to treat and manage it. Some of these treatment options can be entirely done on one’s own, such as limiting alcohol intake, avoiding foods that tend to cause breakouts, and, where possible, staying in warmer, moist air.

Most cases of psoriasis respond well to different topical treatments. These are rubbed directly onto the skin, relieving discomfort and keeping the area moisturized and supple. There are several options available at the local pharmacy for those experiencing a flare-up.

A salicylic acid ointment is one such option, as it promotes the shedding of the dry scales caused by the condition. These easy to obtain ointments are recommended for a plethora of skin conditions. However, they should be used in moderate amounts and only on small areas, as salicylic acid is a potent substance that could cause a few side effects if overused. The same advice applies to ointments and shampoos containing coal and tar that are particularly popular in natural health circles.

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.

Psoriasis And The Immune System

disagree . One alternative theory is that psoriasis occurs because the immune system reacts irregularly to bacteria on the skin due to genetics.

In an autoimmune disease, specific triggers cause the immune system to malfunction. These triggers vary between individuals. But in the case of psoriasis, they can include stress and skin trauma, such as insect bites, sunburn, and scratches.

In psoriasis, the activated immune system mistakenly launches an inflammatory response. It begins to attack healthy cells as though they were harmful invading pathogens. White blood cells called T helper lymphocytes, or T cells, become irregularly active and produce excess signaling molecules.

These cytokine molecules cause the blood vessels in the skin to widen. In turn, this causes white blood cells to accumulate, and keratinocytes, which make up the outer layer of the skin, to multiply much faster than usual.

In psoriasis, the process of a cell dividing, maturing, migrating to the skins surface, and sloughing off is complete in as few as 37 days, compared with 34 weeks in a person without psoriasis.

The result of this skin buildup is thickened, flushed, and scaly skin plaques.