Types of psoriasis.
Although the symptoms are similar, psoriasis is a disease that  can occur on different skin areas, with a significant range of dermatological patterns and a great variety of severity rates.
Considering the above parameters, specialists distinguish psoriasis in different types. The most common of them are the plaque, guttate, inverse, postural and erythrodermic psoriasis. A different classification, based on the affected area, includes scalp, nail, genital, facial, hand and foot psoriasis.
A typical clinical case is characterized by the presence of a single type of psoriasis. However, there is a possibility more than one forms of psoriasis to occur simultaneously. Moreover, the disease can mutate from on type to another, without necessarily an apparent reason, although certain triggering factors may be responsible for that. One of them, for instance can be a streptococcal throat infection that can result in guttate form.
Below you can read brief descriptions of the encountered types of psoriasis classified, according to the pattern of the pathological formations found on the skin.
Plaque psoriasis.
This is the most common type of psoriasis. It is characterized by topical, raised, inflamed, well defined skin with red lesions covered by silvery white scales. The latest are often described as plaques or flakes. Plaque psoriasis typically occurs on the elbows, knees, scalp, buttock, umbilicus and lower back. Progressively, the affected areas may get larger, covering very extensive portions of the body surface, especially if psoriasis has occurred on the trunk. The dermatological symptoms may include dryness, itch, cracks and occasional pain. Plaque psoriasis is usually very persistent and quite often turns to a chronic skin condition, compromising the patient’s life quality.
Guttate psoriasis.
This type of psoriasis is the most likely to appear in childhood or adolescence. The lesions usually cover extensive parts of the trunk or limbs, although in more rare cases, they may affect the face, scalp and ears. These formations are itchy, red and scaly and resemble water drops.
The onset of guttate psoriasis is sudden and specialists believe it must be triggered by certain factors. The most characteristic of them is a streptococcal infection of the respiratory system, especially the throat. Viral infections, such as common cold, may lead to the development of the disease. Guttate psoriasis may either persist or disappear after the clearance of the bacterial infection. Other triggering factors of guttate psoriasis may be stress, skin injury and the intake of certain medications, like antihypertensives.
Inverse psoriasis.
This kind of psoriasis typically develops on parts of the skin where moist is frequently present and regular friction takes place. These are skin folds, such as armpits, groin and the areas under the breast and around the genitals or the buttocks. Overweight or obese people are far more susceptible to inverse psoriasis, since they tend to sweat easier and the folds in their skin are deeper. In inverse psoriasis the psoriatic patches are red but not scaly. Topical treatment is the first therapeutic choice for inverse psoriasis. Although topical immunomodulators, such as Elidel and Protopic, are typically used to treat eczema, seem to be quite effective in inverse psoriasis, as well.
Pustular psoriasis.
This type of psoriasis is rare in adolescents or children and it is characterized by red areas of skin, carrying small white blisters which seem to be full of puss but they are not infectious. Pustular psoriasis may be either localized, mainly occurring on hands and feet or generalized, occupying extensive areas of the surface of the body. Dryness, tenderness, severe rushes and, if the condition gets chronic, scaliness are the most characteristic dermatological symptoms. Additionally, general pustular psoriasis can cause systemic symptoms, such as fever, increased heart rate, fatigue and dehydration. The condition may require hospitalization, in order any strain on the heart or kidneys to be dealt with.
Pustular psoriasis may develop within a few hours and can be triggered by stress, overexposure to sunlight, use of irritating cosmetic preparations, trauma, pregnancy, smoking and the intake or discontinuation of systemic medications.
The prognosis of the disease is far better in children or adolescents than in adults.
Erythrodermic psoriasis.
This is the less common and the most severe type of psoriasis, since it can easily affect 60% of the total skin. It is characterized by fever, erythema (redness), inflammation, severe rush, swelling, pain and scaliness accompanied by exfoliation.
Usual triggering factors for erythrodermic psoriasis can be sunburns, skin traumas and systemic corticosteroid use. Erythrodermic psoriasis typically requires hospitalization, because serious and potentially fatal complications may follow. The latest include heart or kidney failure and severe infections, such as pneumonia.
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