Chronic plaque psoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune condition that involves itchy, scaly patches of skin. You can manage it over time, but there’s currently no cure.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that affects nearly
There are many different types of psoriasis, and symptoms may range from mild to severe. The most common type is plaque psoriasis, which affects up to
All forms of psoriasis are chronic (long term), and there’s currently no cure. But a treatment plan could help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis.
The primary symptom of chronic plaque psoriasis is the appearance of scaly skin lesions with clearly defined borders.
These lesions
Other symptoms that may develop along with these plaques include:
- itching
- redness or discoloration
- a flattened texture
- silvery to white scales
Chronic plaque psoriasis most commonly appears on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back. Yet it may affect any part of your body, including:
- your nails
- skin folds
- the palms of your hands
- the soles of your feet
In many cases, plaque psoriasis lesions will bleed if the scales are peeled away, a sign known as the Auspitz sign.
Sometimes, lesions may also appear where the skin has been injured, which is known as the Koebner phenomenon.
A primary care physician may be the first to provide a diagnosis of chronic plaque psoriasis. They may also recommend visiting a dermatologist or rheumatologist, who can help you manage severe symptoms.
A healthcare professional will first perform a physical examination to check your symptoms. Well-defined dry or scaly patches are one main sign of chronic plaque psoriasis.
The doctor may perform additional testing to officially confirm your diagnosis or to rule out any
- atopic dermatitis
- contact dermatitis
- lichen planus
- secondary syphilis
- mycosis fungoides
- tinea corporis
- pityriasis rosea
The most common test to help tell the difference between these conditions is a skin biopsy. In this test, a sample of your skin will be taken and examined with a microscope to help identify any other potential causes of irritation or infection.
Different forms of psoriasis, on the other hand, are most often diagnosed after careful observation. A doctor might note specifically the different ways lesions appear in different forms of the disease.
Many treatment options are available for chronic plaque psoriasis, and you may use some of these in combination with each other.
Topical treatments
Topical treatments are medications that you apply to the surface of your skin. These are usually the first step in treating plaque psoriasis and may include:
- topical steroid creams, including mometasone (Elocon) and clobetasol (Temovate)
- vitamin D derivatives, such as calcipotriene (Dovonex)
- topical retinoids, such as tazarotene (Tazorac)
- topical immunosuppressants, such as tacrolimus (Prograf) and pimecrolimus (Elidel)
- anthralin (Anthra-Derm) or coal tar
- phototherapy with UV light
Systemic treatment
Systemic treatments are medications that may affect your whole body, rather than just the targeted area. Systemic medications may be taken orally or by injection. These include:
- acetretin (Soriatane)
- adalimumab (Humira)
- cyclosporine/ciclosporin
- etanercept (Enbrel)
- infliximab (Remicade)
- methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
- mycophenolate (CellCept), though this one may not be widely prescribed as it’s not cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose and is considered off-label use
- ustekinumab (Stelara)
- apremilast (Otezla)
- secukinumab
- lxekizumab
- risankizumab
Natural remedies
Some natural remedies and lifestyle changes may also help improve chronic plaque psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, these may include:
- quitting smoking
- reducing stress
- receiving acupuncture from a licensed practitioner
- trying herbal remedies, such as turmeric, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar
- taking baths with oatmeal or Epsom salts
- trying psychotherapy
- taking vitamin D and other dietary supplements
It’s important to note that more research is needed to fully support the efficacy of natural remedies in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis.
Plaque psoriasis, as well as other forms of psoriasis, are chronic and cannot currently be cured.
Some triggers, like stress or infections, may cause even well-managed psoriasis to flare up.
It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional if you’re current treatment plan doesn’t help improve your symptoms. They could suggest alternative treatments to help put your symptoms into remission.
How do you get rid of chronic plaque psoriasis?
Treatment for chronic plaque psoriasis may include a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes, topical medications, oral medications, and phototherapy.
What is the cause of chronic plaque psoriasis?
Chronic plaque psoriasis happens when your immune system boosts the production of skin cells as a response to a perceived threat. However, researchers aren’t sure what causes the immune system to react this way.
What triggers plaque psoriasis?
Some triggers of plaque psoriasis may include smoking, hormonal changes, skin injuries, stress, drinking alcohol, and other autoimmune conditions like HIV.
What happens if psoriasis is left untreated?
If left untreated, psoriasis symptoms may worsen, affecting daily activities and quality of life.
Chronic plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that may cause itchy, dry, and scaly plaques to develop on your skin.
Although there’s currently no cure, treatment may help you relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
You may wish to speak with a healthcare professional if you have psoriasis. They could develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.