Guttate Psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis is a type of psoriasis that affects children and adults. It appears on the skin as a red, small spot in the shape of a teardrop. It doesn’t usually leave a scar, but scales may appear.
You can get it as a young adult or a child.
This type of psoriasis affects ⅓ of people who have psoriasis, but it’s not as common as plaque psoriasis.
You may experience the condition once or have several flare-ups at different times. In some cases, the condition may not go away easily, but a doctor can help manage the condition.
Symptoms of Guttate Psoriasis
Some of the guttate psoriasis symptoms include thick spots on the legs, chest, stomach, and arms. The condition may occur alone or with other forms of psoriasis, like plaque psoriasis. So, it may extend to your scalp, ears, or face without affecting your nails, palms, or soles of your feet.
The flare-ups become much when the air is dry, and your symptoms may clear up much faster during summer.
Stages of Guttate Psoriasis
This type of psoriasis comes in three stages:
Mild: A few spots cover 3 percent of your skin
Moderate: 3-10 percent of your skin is covered in lesions
Severe: Lesions cover 10 percent or more of your skin
Often, the stage of your psoriasis can be determined by how much they affect your daily life. For instance, scalp or face psoriasis can be classified as a severe form of psoriasis even though it affects about 2-3 percent of your body.
If you work as a model or media personality, it will be classified as severe psoriasis because it affects your livelihood and appearance. The same applies to other forms of psoriasis.
Causes and Triggers of Guttate Psoriasis
This condition is usually triggered by streptococcus, a bacterial infection. This bacteria causes your immune system to react, thereby causing spots on the skin.
Sometimes, people develop this condition when they have a parent, sibling, or relative with the condition.
Other things that can trigger this condition include stress, tonsillitis, cuts, bites or burns on the skin, sinus infection, flu, and so on. Beta-blockers and antimalarial drugs may also trigger the condition.
Diagnosis of Guttate Psoriasis
During diagnosis, your doctor will ask you to provide your medical history and the kind of medications you’ve been using.
They’ll also carry out a skin biopsy and physical examination to help them determine if it’s guttate psoriasis or not. They may also take your blood sample to check for strep.
Treatment for Guttate Psoriasis
Generally, guttate psoriasis treatment lasts for 2-3 three weeks, but your doctor may extend the period to prevent other infections in your body.
Medications
Many over-the-counter prescription options are available for flaky, scaly, swelling, and dry skin. Some of them include lotions with coal tar, cortisone cream, dandruff shampoo, and moisturizers. Prescription medications with vitamin A ( corticosteroids, biologics, methotrexate, apremilast, e.t.c.) are also recommended in severe cases.
Another option is phototherapy or light therapy, which involves shining ultraviolet light on your skin. It’s usually used along with medications to increase its effectiveness.