The Five Different Types of Psoriasis
On Monday, we recognized World Psoriasis Day on our blog, and today we’d like to dig a little deeper into this lifelong autoimmune condition, which can cause skin lesions on almost any area of the body as well as psoriatic arthritis.
Did you know that there are several types of psoriasis, and that they can have very different presentations? Here’s a quick primer on the five main forms, none of which are contagious.
Plaque Psoriasis
The most common form involves reddish lesions topped with silvery white scales.
Guttate Psoriasis
A fairly common form marked by dot-like lesions that are small, red and scaly.
Pustular Psoriasis
Involves blister-like lesions and intense scaling, often on the palms and soles.
Inverse Psoriasis
Characterized by very red lesions where the skin folds (e.g. armpits, groin).
Erythrodermic Psoriasis
A rare, painful form marked by red, swollen skin and lots of dead skin shedding.
See photos of each type of psoriasis here.
If you’re living with a form of psoriasis, find others like you in our growing community of nearly 2,500 psoriasis patients. On our Patients page, you can search by type of psoriasis, years since diagnosis, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score and more. We also encourage you to add your subtype(s) on your condition history page so that others like you can reach out and connect.
What treatments work best for your particular type – from light therapy to topical corticosteroids like clobetasol? Trade notes and exchange support with those who can truly relate today.
