Plaque, Guttate, Inverse, and Pustular: Four Main Types of Psoriasis

Almost 8 million people around the country deal with a chronic skin condition known as psoriasis. Our Florida-based team at Skin Wellness Physicians works with patients dealing with everything from small patches of raised and red skin to smooth and shiny areas that develop in folds around the body. There is even a rare and dangerous form of the disease that can impact people with painful peeling from head to toe.

Fortunately, most patients dealing with psoriasis fall into one of four primary categories, although it can manifest in multiple different ways—even on the same person!

Here is a brief look at the four most common psoriasis presentations in the skin:

Plaque Psoriasis

This is the psoriasis most people think of when you say “psoriasis.” It is the most common of all presentations. The skin develops plaques that have a scaly appearance, rough texture, and typically red coloration. The condition can also impact the nails on the fingers and toes, causing them to be discolored or pitted.

Guttate Psoriasis

More common in young people, the guttate form of the disease is signified by the development of distinctly shaped spots on the limbs and torso. Each spot resembles a teardrop and can have a reddish hue.

Inverse Psoriasis

While the plaque form causes rough patches to appear, the inverse form—as the name indicates—causes the opposite. Instead of scaly areas, smooth and shiny swaths of skin develop, typically in areas where the skin creases and folds. The most common parts of the body for this form to appear are the armpits, the groin, and in the folds below the breasts and buttocks. While all psoriasis presentations can be uncomfortable, the location of these patches makes them more likely to be irritated by both sweat and skin rubbing on skin. The friction and warm, moist environment can also contribute to the development of infections.

Pustular Psoriasis

Thankfully not as common as these other forms, pustular psoriasis results in the eruption of small, pus-filled bumps on the skin. It can also cause the palms and soles to appear red and blotchy, and impacted skin can feel itchy, as well as develop scales and flake off.

Other types of psoriasis and related complications exist, including psoriatic arthritis that impacts the joints, as well as a very rare form known as erythrodermic psoriasis, which requires urgent care. The erythrodermic form can cause large swaths of skin on the body—up to more than three-quarters of the surface area—to redden and peel, which can be very dangerous to a patient’s health. The red patches are also burningly painful, and patients may develop a fever, chills, fatigue, and other symptoms as well.

No matter which type of psoriasis you have, or if you are simply wondering whether changes you have been noticing in your own skin may be worth checking out, contact Skin Wellness Physicians. Call (239) 732-0044 or contact us online.