What is Plaque Psoriasis?

Plaque Psoriasis, aside from being the most common type, is just psoriasis. Let me explain. Prior to being called this, it was psoriasis and before this, was thought to be leprosy.

For example... psoriasis on the scalp came to be scalp psoriasis. This began to get descriptive names many decades ago according to where on the body you had it. It's still the same, but changes its appearance depending where on the body you have it. For obvious reasons (hair mass and less skin tissue), this on the scalp has generally a different appearance then psoriasis on the elbows and knees.

Signs and Symptoms

There are various types of psoriasis. We have Plaque psoriasis, Nail psoriasis, Scalp psoriasis, Guttate psoriasis, Inverse psoriasis, Pustular psoriasis, Erythrodermic psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis. And the most common of it is the plaque psoriasis. The symptoms of psoriasis may defer depending on what type a person has but may include one or more of the following:

• Red patches of skin, inflamed skin usually covered with silver colored scales is the most common form of plaque psoriasis. These patches may be itchy and painful. The itch may occur anywhere in your body including your genitals. Sometimes these red patches crack and bleed.

• Psoriasis may also affect your fingernails and toenails. Discoloration and pitting of the nails can also be one of the symptoms of nail psoriasis. This may causes the nails to loosen and will eventually detach from the nail bed. Nails may crumble in most severe cases of nail psoriasis.

• Scalp psoriasis or psoriasis on the scalp may appear red. Itchy areas of the scalp may have silvery colored white scales. Flakes are noticeable in your hair or shoulders, especially after scratching your scalp.

• Guttate psoriasis may affects people less than 30 years of age. Marked by small water-drop-shaped sores on your trunks, arms, legs and scalp.

• Inverse psoriasis is the kind that mainly affects the skin in your armpits, groin, under the breasts, and around the genitals. Inverse psoriasis is common the oversized people and it is worsened by friction and sweating.

Herbal Medicines For Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that is characterized by patches of well-defined plaques covered by silvery scaling. These patches occur on the knees, elbows, trunk, scalp and hairline, but do not affect the face. The patches may show pinpoint bleeding spots when scratched. Skin may be generally dry and in severe cases the nails are pitted. Severe cases may be accompanied by a form of arthritis that affects the fingers, knees, ankles, and spine, but this is rare.

Attacks of psoriasis are normally triggered by mess, illness, and damage to the skin. It is not itchy, but it can be lery painful when cracks appear across the skin. Psoriasis can be very embarrassing for the sufferer because it is unsightly and still misunderstood. Psoriasis is never contagious and usually appears in the late teens and early twenties, although random cases occur in children and the elderly. It runs in families and recurs at intervals, usually throughout life.

There are four types of psoriasis: flexural, which covers the moist areas of the body; pustule psoriasis, which is characterized by small pustules, usually on the palms or soles; plaque psoriasis, which is the most common type, affecting most areas of the body and frequently the nails; and guttate psoriasis, which appears in children, usually following a throat infection.

Treatment

Naturopathy Sunlight improves psoriasis, which is usually worse during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.

Diet and Nutrition Avoid meats, fried foods, sugar, and dairy produce; increase your intake of both fruit and vegetables. Take evening primrose oil and mineral supplements.

Consult a qualified practitioner/ therapist for:

Herbal Medicine A herbalist will prescribe for the individual case, but may suggest the following: dandelion and burdock to cleanse the system, nettle to improve the circulation, and echinacea as a general skin tonic.

Homeopathy Use Sulfur for attacks with itching, Petroleum for dryness, and Graphites for oozing plaques.

Acupuncture This claims good results in toning down symptoms, if not eliminating the problem, provided it is used in conjunction with additional suggestions, which may include dietary modification and learning techniques to deal with stress. The same applies to homeopathy.