Psoriasis is not just a superficial skin condition. In fact, it actually develops underneath the skin.
Psoriasis is a chronic or long-lasting condition of the immune system that can range from mild to severe. This condition can sometimes be linked to diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Texas Surgical Dermatology, led by board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen, provides advanced skin care treatments to patients in Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and surrounding locations.
How Psoriasis Develops
The psoriasis symptoms that manifest on the surface of the skin are only a part of the story. With healthy skin, the body takes nearly 28 to 30 days to produce new skin cells and discard old cells.
In plaque psoriasis, the immune system becomes hyperactive causing skin inflammation. This leads to faster production of skin cells than normal. The new skin cells are pushed to the skin’s surface in three to four days instead of the standard 28 to 30 days.
But the body cannot discard the new skin cells at such a fast rate. This causes the dead, old skin cells to accumulate over each other as new skin cells are rapidly being produced.
The rapid production of new skin cells causes the old ones to be pushed to the surface of the skin. This creates itchy, red, thick, and flaky patches known as plaques.
But the exact cause for psoriasis continues to remain unknown.
Psoriasis Types
Many individuals are not aware that there exist different types of psoriasis. However, a patient typically only has one type of the condition at a given type. Each form of psoriasis has distinct symptoms and can manifest on the skin in various ways.
It is crucial to understand and share with other people that regardless of where psoriasis is located on the body or what it looks like, it is not contagious.
Plaque Psoriasis
This type of psoriasis is characterized by raised, swollen, red lesions that are covered by silvery white scales. Plaque psoriasis typically develops on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. This type of psoriasis occurs most commonly, with 80 percent of all psoriasis patients experiencing this form of the condition.
Guttate Psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis often starts in childhood or young adulthood. This condition manifests in the form of small, pink, individual spots on the legs, arms, and torso. These spots are usually not as thick as plaque lesions.
Inverse Psoriasis
This form of psoriasis develops in regions such as the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in other skin folds such as those around the genitals and buttocks. Inverse psoriasis appears as bright-red lesions that are smooth and shiny.
Pustular Psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis usually develops in adults, and it is characterized by the presence of blisters of noninfectious pus surrounded by red skin. It can be localized to a particular area of the body such as feet and hands, or cover a more substantial part of the body.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis
This is a particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that affects most of the body’s surface. It is characterized by the presence of periodic widespread, red skin, and the shedding of scales in sheets.
Psoriasis and Joint Pain
In case a patient has psoriasis and experiences swelling, pain, or stiffness in and around their joints, they may be experiencing the symptoms of a condition associated with psoriasis, called psoriatic arthritis.
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Tri H. Nguyen receives patients from Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and nearby areas for innovative and advanced dermatology treatments.
For more information on procedures and treatments offered at Texas Surgical Dermatology PA please call 832.663.6566 or click here to contact our dermatologists. Helping patients in Houston, The Woodlands, Springs, Katy and other surrounding areas of Texas.
