Psoriasis Diseases

Psoriasis: The Basics
*Psoriasis is a chronic multisystem disease with predominantly skin and joint manifestations

*Affects approximately 2% of the U.S. population

*Age of onset occurs in two peaks: ages 20-30 and ages 50-60, but can be seen at any age

*Waxes and wanes during a patient’s lifetime, is often modified by treatment initiation and cessation and has few spontaneous remissions

*There is a strong genetic component
#Classification of Psoriasis

Classification is based on morphological descriptions

The types of psoriasis are:
•Plaque: scaly, erythematous patches, papules, and plaques that are sometimes pruritic

•Inverse/Flexural: lesions are located in the skin folds

•Erythrodermic: generalized erythema covering nearly the entire body surface area with varying degrees of scaling

•Pustular: clinically apparent pustules

•are, acute generalized variety called "von Zumbuschvariant"

•Palmoplantar–localized involving palms and soles
 •Guttate: presents withdrop lesions, 1-10mm salmon-pink papules with a fine scale

Clinical findings in patients frequently overlap in more than one category

Different types of psoriasis may require different treatment

GuttatePsoriasis
 Acute onset of raindrop-sized lesions on trunk and extremities in young adults, often preceded by streptococcal pharyngitis
Inverse/Flexural Psoriasis
 Erythematous plaques in the axilla, groin, inframammary region, and other flexural areas. May lack scale due to moistness of area.