Triggers and Types of Psoriasis

The ins and outs of psoriasis

Triggers

• Stress
• Injury to the skin, such as vaccinations, sunburns, and scratches
• Medications
  • Lithium—used for treating psychiatric disorders
  • Antimalarials—used to prevent malaria
  • Beta-blockers—used to treat high blood pressure
  • Quinidine—used to treat heart conditions
  • Indomethacin—used to treat arthritis
• Allergies, diet and weather

Types

• Plaque—the most common form of the disease, affecting 80% of those who have psoriasis. Appears as raised, inflamed, red lesions covered by a silvery white scale on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back.
• Guttate—develops in children or young adults. Appears as small, red, individual spots on the trunk and limbs.
• Inverse—more troublesome in overweight people and those with deep skin folds. Appears as bright red, smooth and shiny lesions on the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in other skin folds around the genitals and buttocks.
• Pustular—primarily develops in adults. Appears as white blisters of noninfectious pus surrounded by red skin on the hands and feet, or sometimes the entire body.
• Erythrodermic—may result in serious illness if not treated by a doctor. Appears as periodic, widespread, fiery redness of the skin and the shedding of scales in sheets, rather than smaller flakes across most of the body. Severe itching and pain, heart rate increase, and fluctuating body temperature accompany the reddening and shedding.