Females Develop Plaque Psoriasis Earlier Than Males

Psoriasis may be one of the oldest recorded skin conditions. Psoriasis cannot be passed from one person to another, though it is more likely to occur in people whose family members have it.  Psoriasis is more of an inconvenience inmost cases than it is threatening. Psoriasis vulgaris, also known as "plaque psoriasis," is the most common form of psoriasis and affects 80% of people with the disease.

It tends to be a relatively persistent or chronic pattern of psoriasis that can be improved with treatment but is difficult to clear completely with topical treatments alone. Environmental factors such as smoking, sun exposure, alcoholism, and HIV infection may affect how often the psoriasis occurs and how long the flare-ups last.  

Plaque psoriasis is the most common presentation of psoriasis and of all the patterns is the most likely to affect the typical areas of the elbows, knees, umbilicus and lower back.  As the name suggests plaque psoriasis is marked by the presence of plaques on the skin. Plaque psoriasis is characterized by large areas patches forming particularly on the limbs and trunk; including the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. Of the 7 types of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis is the most common and accounts for approximately 80% of psoriasis cases.  

The first peak occurrence of plaque psoriasis is in people aged 16-22 years. Females develop plaque psoriasis earlier than males. Chronic plaque psoriasis is usually managed initially with topical agents. If plaque psoriasis is too extensive or severe to be effectively managed with topical treatments, phototherapy or systemic agents can be used and are usually very effective at improving and even clearing the psoriasis.  

Rapid production of skin cells forces premature skin cells to the surface of the skin where they form thick plaques. Although Plaque psoriasis usually will not cause itching, cracking, and pain on the skin may also be symptoms of plaque psoriasis. The skin plaques take on a silver white appearance and the inflammed skin underneath is red. The burning sensation can be brought on when adjacent skin or clothing rubs against the plaques.

As with other types of psoriasis, Plaque Psoriasis generally is a persistant, chronic pattern of psoirasis, which can be improved with treatment, but proves to be difficult to cure with just topical treatments. Treatments with the least side effects should generally be tried first and more potentially-dangerous treatments instituted only when resistance is demonstrated.

First line management of chronic plaque psoriasis is with topical treatments, including vitamin D analogues, topical corticosteroids, tar-based preparations, dithranol, salicylic acid and topical retinoids. Among the natural treatments available, special blends of essential oils are considered very good. Psoriasis treatment depends primarily on the type of Psoriasis you have and the severity of it.  

Plaque psoriasis is the most common and affects 9 out of 10 sufferers. Plaque psoriasis is usually stable and remains unchanged for longer periods than the guttate variety and is called the chronic plaque psoriasis as compared to the acute nature of the guttate psoriasis.

If plaque psoriasis is too extensive or severe to be effectively managed with topical treatments alone, refer to a dermatologist for phototherapy and/or systemic agents. Psoriasis treatments include various topical creams, internal medications and light therapy. Very often such psoriasis treatments are used as phototherapy or biologics methods, but the chosen way of treatment depends on the disease degree and doctor's recommendations.