Below, you’ll find must-know information about plaque psoriasis.
Plaque psoriasis is a common skin disorder that affects around 7.5 million people in the United States. (1)
It is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the immune system mistakes healthy skin cells for foreign invaders and attacks them.
Plaque psoriasis is characterized by red, raised, scaly patches on the skin called plaques. These plaques typically appear as patches on the knees, elbows, scalp, and lower back, but can appear anywhere on the body.
Patches can range in width from one centimeter to ten centimeters, but they can also be larger and cover a larger portion of your body. Scratching at the scales can often cause the symptoms to become much more severe.
Plaque psoriasis is one of the many types of psoriasis. It’s possible for an individual to have more than one kind of psoriasis.
The other types of psoriasis are inverse psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis. (2)
The exact cause of plaque psoriasis is unknown, but a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can play a role.
Stress, injury to the skin, weather, and illness can trigger the flare-up of the disease.
It is very important to treat plaque psoriasis. If left untreated, psoriasis can lead to severe itching and skin irritation, a weakened immune system, and a decreased quality of life.
Moreover, psoriasis can be associated with a number of other conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
Knowing the symptoms that come with plaque psoriasis can lead to early detection of the disease. With early detection, the disease can be easily managed and controlled.
Below are plaque psoriasis symptoms worth knowing.
5. Appearance Of Plaques
Since plaque psoriasis causes the immune system to malfunction, the body ends up producing too many skin cells. This, in turn, leads to the formation of thick, scaly patches of skin known as plaques.
The plaques are discolored and raised. They are often red or white in color and can be very itchy and painful.
4. Itchiness
Itchiness in plaque psoriasis is usually caused by the inflammation of the skin that is associated with the disease. The inflammation causes the skin to be sensitive to certain irritants, leading to an intense itching sensation.
Furthermore, the thick, scaly plaques of psoriasis can cause the skin to become dry and cracked, which can make the itching sensation even worse. Other factors, such as stress, can also contribute to itchiness in plaque psoriasis.
3. Irritation
Plaque psoriasis can cause irritation due to the scaling, itching, and burning sensations that it brings about. Common triggers of psoriasis flare-ups include stress, injury to the skin, certain medications, infections, and even weather changes.
Furthermore, environmental factors such as smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and lack of exposure to sunlight can also contribute to the irritation brought about by the disease.
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