Pustular Psoriasis Facts and Treatment
Mike Hussey
December 15, 2007
Pustular psoriasis is an uncommon form of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a common skin disease that affects the life cycle of skin cells. Generalised pustular psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis, which presents as widespread pustules on a background of red and tender skin. Pustular psoriasis is uncommon in the United States. Pustular psoriasis affects all races. The average age of those affected is 50 but the range is wide and rarely it can affect children. Generalized pustular psoriasis is often triggered by stopping topical or oral steroids. Oral steroids in psoriasis patients are actually dangerous. They do clear up the psoriasis while the patient is taking them, but after the patient stops, the psoriasis often comes back even worse.
People with pustular psoriasis have clearly defined, raised bumps on the skin that are filled with pus (pustules). The skin under and around these bumps is red. Large portions of your skin may redden.
Causes
As with other types of psoriasis, infections or stress may be a trigger factor in PPP. A strong association with smoking has also been identified, the mechanism of which is uncertain but may be linked to the products of smoking encouraging the inflammatory cells to accumulate in the epidermis (the top layer of the skin).
Around 6 per cent of the people who have psoriasis also get psoriatic arthritis in the joints. Psoriatic arthritis primarily occurs in fingers and toes, but is also quite common in the back bone.
Signs and symptoms
Initially the skin becomes dry, fiery red and tender. The patient may also have a fever, chills, headache, rapid pulse rate, and loss of appetite, nausea and muscle weakness. Within hours 2-3 mm pustules filled with non-infected pus appear on parts of the body especially the flexures and genital areas.
Pustular Psoriasis Treatment
As with all types of psoriasis, there is no cure for pustular psoriasis. There are, however, a number of treatments aimed at controlling the symptoms.
Topical medications are available over the counter and by prescription. Over-the-counter medications are designed for use on thick, scaly skin, not for use on blistering psoriasis. Prescription ointments may be used on blisters. They should be used with care because they may cause skin irritation and inflammation.
Phototherapy (ultraviolet B, UVB) and photochemotherapy (psoralent ultraviolet A, PUVA) are both used for widespread psoriasis. Many patients find that natural sunlight also helps.
Oral treatment with immunosuppressants such as ciclosporin (Neoral), or methotrexate (eg Maxtrex) or the vitamin A derivative acitretin (Neotigason) may be used for patients with severe, widespread or unresponsive psoriasis.
Read out for Doctor. Check out pregnancy and stress
People with pustular psoriasis have clearly defined, raised bumps on the skin that are filled with pus (pustules). The skin under and around these bumps is red. Large portions of your skin may redden.
Causes
As with other types of psoriasis, infections or stress may be a trigger factor in PPP. A strong association with smoking has also been identified, the mechanism of which is uncertain but may be linked to the products of smoking encouraging the inflammatory cells to accumulate in the epidermis (the top layer of the skin).
Around 6 per cent of the people who have psoriasis also get psoriatic arthritis in the joints. Psoriatic arthritis primarily occurs in fingers and toes, but is also quite common in the back bone.
Signs and symptoms
Initially the skin becomes dry, fiery red and tender. The patient may also have a fever, chills, headache, rapid pulse rate, and loss of appetite, nausea and muscle weakness. Within hours 2-3 mm pustules filled with non-infected pus appear on parts of the body especially the flexures and genital areas.
Pustular Psoriasis Treatment
As with all types of psoriasis, there is no cure for pustular psoriasis. There are, however, a number of treatments aimed at controlling the symptoms.
Topical medications are available over the counter and by prescription. Over-the-counter medications are designed for use on thick, scaly skin, not for use on blistering psoriasis. Prescription ointments may be used on blisters. They should be used with care because they may cause skin irritation and inflammation.
Phototherapy (ultraviolet B, UVB) and photochemotherapy (psoralent ultraviolet A, PUVA) are both used for widespread psoriasis. Many patients find that natural sunlight also helps.
Oral treatment with immunosuppressants such as ciclosporin (Neoral), or methotrexate (eg Maxtrex) or the vitamin A derivative acitretin (Neotigason) may be used for patients with severe, widespread or unresponsive psoriasis.
Read out for Doctor. Check out pregnancy and stress
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