Difference Between Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis, or psoriasis vulgaris, is the most common form of psoriasis. An estimated 80 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis. It's characterized by thick red patches of skin, often with a silver or white scaly layer.

1. Should you peel plaque psoriasis?
2. What does plaque psoriasis look like?
3. How do you get plaque psoriasis?
4. How do you get rid of plaque on psoriasis?
5. What happens if psoriasis is left untreated?
6. What is the root cause of psoriasis?
7. Can plaque psoriasis go away?
8. What can be mistaken for psoriasis?
9. Can you have psoriasis without plaques?
10. What organs can be affected by psoriasis?
11. How long does plaque psoriasis last?
12. Is Psoriasis caused by stress?

Should you peel plaque psoriasis?

You can remove these flakes. Taking off the dead skin helps medications and ointments work better. It can also help you feel better about how you look. But you need to do it safely to avoid pain, infection, and bleeding.

What does plaque psoriasis look like?

This is the most common type. Patches of skin are red, raised and have silvery-white flakes, called scales. They usually show up on your scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.

How do you get plaque psoriasis?

Doctors aren't sure why people get plaque psoriasis. It's considered an autoimmune disease. That means your immune system attacks healthy cells as if it's fighting an infection. This causes new skin cells to grow much faster than normal, and they build up in thick patches.

How do you get rid of plaque on psoriasis?

Lifestyle and home remedies

1. Take daily baths. ...
2. Use moisturizer. ...
3. Cover the affected areas overnight. ...
4. Expose your skin to small amounts of sunlight. ...
5. Apply medicated cream or ointment. ...
6. Avoid psoriasis triggers. ...
7. Avoid drinking alcohol. ...
8. Strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What happens if psoriasis is left untreated?

Untreated psoriasis can lead to plaques that continue to build and spread. These can be quite painful, and the itching can be severe. Uncontrolled plaques can become infected and cause scars.

What is the root cause of psoriasis?

Psoriasis is caused, at least in part, by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy skin cells. If you're sick or battling an infection, your immune system will go into overdrive to fight the infection. This might start another psoriasis flare-up. Strep throat is a common trigger.

Can plaque psoriasis go away?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is not curable and it will not go away on its own. However, the disease fluctuates and many people can have clear skin for years at a time, and occasional flare-ups when the skin is worse.

What can be mistaken for psoriasis?

Other psoriasis mimics

Lichenified dermatitis, where a person's skin becomes leathery. Secondary syphilis, which includes a skin rash plus swollen lymph nodes and fever. Mycosis fungoides, a rare type of skin cancer. Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus, a genetic skin condition.

Can you have psoriasis without plaques?

The dots and spots are not as thick as plaques in plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis often starts in childhood or young adulthood and appears after an infection. Most often, guttate psoriasis is mild psoriasis. In some cases, however, it may cause moderate to severe symptoms.

What organs can be affected by psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a disorder of the immune system. It causes white blood cells to become overactive and produce chemicals that trigger inflammation in the skin. This inflammation can also affect other parts of the body, including the lungs.

How long does plaque psoriasis last?

The medical term for this is “remission.” A remission can last for months or years; however, most last from 1 to 12 months. Psoriasis is notoriously unpredictable, so it's impossible to know who will have a remission and how long it will last.

Is Psoriasis caused by stress?

Stress is a common trigger for a psoriasis flare. Stress also can make itch worse. This makes managing stress a particularly important skill for people with psoriasis.