What Do You Know About Psoriasis?

Quite a lot is known about psoriasis, but little is known in how to cure it. Psoriasis occurs due to a combination of reasons and they may be genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It is not contagious and varies between ethnic backgrounds. Other factors that may result in psoriasis include stress, infection and drugs.

There are many types of psoriasis patients have discussed within psoriasis communities on social networking sites. These include: Plaque, Guttate, Pustular, Erythrodermic, Flexural, Sebo, and Palmoplantar psoriasis.

Plaque psoriasis is associated with other inflammatory disorders, including coronary artery disease and inflammatory bowel disease. It appears as salmon-pink or red irregular plaques, risen areas on the skin, with white or silvery scales. The most commonly affected areas include the front of the knees and backs of the elbows, the lower back, around the belly button, and the scalp.

Guttate Psoriasis tends to occur in childhood and early adulthood. It appears as small plaques usually found on the trunk and upper arms and legs after a viral or bacterial upper respiratory infection such as tonsillitis.

Pustular Psoriasis may be widespread and appear as an inflamed elevation of the skin filled with pus. This form of psoriasis is associated with fever caused by infection or sudden withdrawal of systemic or very potent topical corticosteroids.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis is a potentially life-threatening form of psoriasis in which the whole body surface is affected, leading to possible hypothermia and heart failure. It can be developed gradually from chronic plaque psoriasis, or suddenly, with little infection.

Flexural Psoriasis occurs in areas where the skin folds such as genital region, armpits, between the buttocks, and below the breasts. It can appear shiny and red, with plaques that don't have scales due to the moist nature of the areas in which they occur.

Sebo Psoriasis appears as greasy scales in the eyebrows, behind the ears, over the breastbone, and at the sides of the nose.

Palmoplantar Pustulosis appears as yellow-brown pustules that occur on palms and soles.

The discussions formed on psoriasis social networking sites help psoriasis sufferers gain control, reduce anxiety, create realistic expectations, promote self-care and participation, and generate feelings of safety and security. The satisfaction with information provided has been shown to correlate with quality of life. Patients, who feel satisfied with the adequacy of information given, are more likely to feel happy with their level of participation in networking with other sufferers and in the overall process of decision-making.