Psoriasis
“Itchy, scaling red skin isn’t always indicative of a regular rash that will go away and never come back. At Petrin Dermatology in Redmond, Washington, James Petrin, MD, and his team can examine your skin flare-up to determine if you have one of the five types of psoriasis. They also offer treatment and preventive care for psoriasis flare-ups. To start treatment for your psoriasis, call Petrin Dermatology or book an appointment online today. ”
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a noncontagious immune system disease that causes skin flare-ups to appear on and off throughout your life. The patches of scaly skin associated with psoriasis appear because the condition speeds up the life cycle of your skin cells. As your cells die, they build up on the surface of your skin. The patches are itchy and often painful.
There’s no cure for psoriasis, so treatments focus on alleviating symptoms and minimizing flare-ups. It’s possible for your psoriasis to lay dormant for years at a time or even go into remission. Lifestyle factors and certain occurrences like smoking, stress, skin injuries, and alcohol consumption can all trigger psoriasis flare-ups or increase their frequency.
Which type of psoriasis do I have?
There are five main types of psoriasis, and your dermatologist at Petrin Dermatology can help you discover which type you have and what makes it unique. You might have:
Plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most prevalent form of the condition. Itchy red patches of cracked skin covered in silvery-white scales appear on many parts of your body during a flare-up, most often on your scalp, elbows, and knees.
Guttate psoriasis
The second most common type of psoriasis, guttate psoriasis flare-ups appear in the form of red pockmarks across your body. It usually starts during childhood or adolescence and often appears following a bacterial infection, like strep throat.
Inverse psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis often appears after a fungal infection. Flare-ups include patches of smooth, red, irritated skin that appear in skin folds like your armpits and genitals.
Erythrodermic psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis causes highly severe flare-ups of red, painful skin. This type can be life-threatening, so you need to seek treatment right away if you get a flare-up.
Pustular psoriasis
If your psoriasis flare-ups consist of red patches of skin covered in white blisters or pustules, you likely have pustular psoriasis.
How can I manage my psoriasis?
Petrin Dermatology offers several treatments to help you manage a psoriasis flare-up. In addition to helping you learn your triggers and how to avoid them, your dermatologist may recommend or prescribe:
Topical corticosteroids
Topical retinoids
Vitamin D cream
Salicylic acid products
Moisturizers
Light therapy
Biologic drugs that alter your immune system
Your treatment starts with conservative options like topical creams and ointments and progresses to stronger medications. The goal is to lessen your symptoms while minimizing side effects from the treatments that work.
For high-quality psoriasis care for any form of the condition, call Petrin Dermatology to request an appointment or book online today.