What is Plaque Psoriasis?
Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the skin. As your immune system turns against you and begins to attack healthy skin cells, inflamed, scaly patches will begin forming on your skin in various locations throughout your body.
These scaly patches of skin, known as plaques will appear as red or pink patches covered with silvery scales. On dark skin, plaques can appear thicker, ranging from dark brown, purple, or light gray.
Plaque psoriasis can cause severe physical and emotional discomfort and distress to those living with the condition. Psoriasis plaques are often painful and itchy. When visible, many people living with plaque psoriasis are mistreated and bullied by those that interact with them due to the appearance of their skin.
Common Symptoms of Plaque Psoriasis Include:
- Scaly or crusty dandruff on the scalp
- Intermittent rashes that vary in color with a scaly or build.
- Patches of skin that appear scaly and inflamed and may crack, bleed, or itch.
- Patches of rashing or scaly skin merge to form bigger areas of affected skin.
- Pitting and cracking of toenails and fingernails.
While not fatal, 30% of people with plaque psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis which causes inflammation and deformities in the joints of the hands and feet. Luckily, psoriasis can be treated and managed through lifestyle changes and a combination of different therapies and medications.
How is Plaque Psoriasis Treated?
The first line of defense in the treatment of plaque psoriasis is topical ointments. Most commonly, corticosteroids will be prescribed to help reduce the body’s immune response, giving your skin the chance to heal.
For moderate to severe cases of psoriasis, medical professionals may also try phototherapy and oral medications to reduce flare-ups. If traditional oral medications are not working, your doctor may prescribe you a biologic.
Biologic infusions can be more effective for those suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis. As an Intravenous therapy (IV), biologics bypass the digestive tract, allowing these medications to maintain their potency and effectiveness.
