Psoriasis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

Psoriasis (pronounced “sore-eye-a-sis”) is an inflammatory condition of the skin, nails and joints¹, caused when your skin cells grow too quickly². Symptoms include red scaly patches on the skin, and itchiness and flaking of the skin.

The areas most commonly affected are the scalp, elbows and knees, but psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, including finger and toenails^2,3.

What causes psoriasis?

The cause of psoriasis is unknown, however it’s thought that it occurs in people who have a genetic tendency for the immune system in their skin to react to certain triggers⁴.

If psoriasis runs in your family, infections and certain medications (lithium, beta blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and antimalarial medication) can trigger the onset of psoriasis or cause it to flare up³.

What are the symptoms of psoriasis?

Psoriasis causes different symptoms in different people, however the most common symptoms are dry, raised, red patches of skin (called plaques) covered with silvery scales⁴. These patches usually appear on the scalp, elbow and knees, but can appear anywhere on the body.

Psoriasis can also cause dents and discolouration of the finger and toenails⁴. Some people can experience swollen, painful joints, and rare types of psoriasis cause pus-filled blisters or a red, peeling rash that itches or burns intensely⁴.

Crohn’s disease – a gastrointestinal disorder that causes painful swelling and redness inside the digestive tract as a result of an overactive immune response – occurs more commonly in patients with psoriasis⁴.

What are the different types of psoriasis?

There are five different types of psoriasis that affect people of different ages and cause varying symptoms⁵:

• Plaque psoriasis: the most common form of psoriasis – around 80% of people living with psoriasis have this type². It presents as raised red lesions covered by silvery white skin cells.
• Pustular psoriasis: a more severe form which is mostly found in adults and can be painful. This type of psoriasis appears as white blisters of non-infectious pus surrounded by red skin². It mostly appears on the hands and feet.
• Guttate psoriasis: found mostly in children and presents as small pink dots on the torso, arms and legs⁵. It’s commonly seen in young adults two or three weeks after they’ve had tonsillitis or a viral infection⁶.
• Inverse (flexural) psoriasis: appears as bright red lesions that are shiny and smooth, usually in body folds such as armpits and the groin⁵. Most people with inverse psoriasis will have another type of psoriasis affecting another part of their body at the same time.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis: a severe and rare form of psoriasis that affects most of the body. It affects around 3% of people who have psoriasis⁵.

Who can get psoriasis?

Anyone can get psoriasis. There are around 125 million people with psoriasis globally, and it affects males and females equally⁵. More than 1.6 million Australians live with psoriasis.

Psoriasis can develop at any age but usually starts in adults in their early 30s, with 75% of affected people developing psoriasis before they’re 45⁶.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

You should see your doctor and ask for a referral to a dermatologist if you think you may have psoriasis. Because skin rashes are common, they will have to rule out other causes, such as allergic reactions to food or medication, before they can make a diagnosis of psoriasis⁷.

How is psoriasis treated?

There is no cure for psoriasis, but there are many treatments that can help you keep it under control⁴.

Mild psoriasis is usually treated with topical products including moisturisers, tar preparations, dithranol, corticosteroid creams or vitamin D preparations⁴. Sufferers might also receive ultraviolet (UV) therapy to slow down the production of skin cells⁴.

If your psoriasis is more severe, your doctor may prescribe oral or injected medications⁴.

Is psoriasis curable?

There is no cure for psoriasis, but it can be controlled with treatment³.

Is psoriasis contagious?

No, psoriasis is not contagious. Although it can look like a rash, it can’t be spread by touch or being close to a person who has it².

Can psoriasis cause arthritis?

For an unknown reason, psoriasis can sometimes cause a form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis which may cause³:

• Discomfort, throbbing or swelling in one or many joints
• Tenderness in any joint
• Inflammation in the joints, which causes nerve pain

The joints most likely to be affected by psoriatic arthritis are the last joint in the fingers or toes, the sacrum (lower back), wrists, knees or ankles³.

Are there any other complications associated with psoriasis?

Psoriasis can be controlled with treatment, however people with severe psoriasis have an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease^3,4.

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Sources:
1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/psoriasis?viewAsPdf=true
2. http://www.psoriasisaustralia.org.au/psoriasis/#1496120123948-5caf8bb9-f715
3. http://www.psoriasisaustralia.org.au/psoriasis/
4. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/psoriasis
5. http://www.psoriasisaustralia.org.au/psoriasis/#1496120908451-d0899877-0a9e
6. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/psoriasis/
7. http://www.psoriasisaustralia.org.au/psoriasis-myths-and-misconceptions/