What is psoriasis? What types and symptoms of psoriasis exist in children? What causes psoriasis? Does psoriasis in babies go away? Find out answers on the questions in the article.
Symptoms and Types
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that appears in a number of forms. The two that appear most in children are:
Plaque psoriasis
This is the most common type. If your baby has actually a raised, red lesion covered with a flaky, silvery-white scale, he might have it. Plaque can show up anywhere, although it most often appears on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back.
Guttate psoriasis
This type of psoriasis is more typical in children than in adults. It isn’t really as scaly or thick as plaque. Rather it looks like small, dot-like sores, normally on the trunk and limbs.
There are mild cases of psoriasis, with just a couple of sores; moderate cases, in which 3 to 10 percent of the body is covered; and severe cases, where more than 10 percent– and in some cases the whole body– is covered.
Psoriasis isn’t typical in infants. More likely possibilities at this age include a bad case of seborrheic dermatitisor cradle cap (if it’s on your baby’s scalp) or a bad diaper rash, if it’s in his genital area.
Ringworm can likewise produce red skin with a flaky scale. Eczema, which can be challenging to distinguish from psoriasis, is another possibility. Contact your baby’s doctor for a diagnosis.
What causes psoriasis?
Most skin cells grow and shed every 28 to 30 days. If your baby has psoriasis, the skin cells in the afflicted area are growing every three to 4 days rather. Those raised, flaky sores are actually an accumulation of skin. The inflammation is from additional blood being pumped to the area.
No one knows why the body decides to generate skin cells so rapidly, but the change is believed to be activated by the body immune system. There’s a hereditary factor, too– about a third of those with psoriasis have at least one member of the family with the condition. A child can develop psoriasis without a family history, though.
Childhood bouts of guttate psoriasis are often triggered by a disease, like a cold or tonsillitis. Skin injuries– from scratching or rubbing, for example– and stress may make matters worse. (You may wish to put little mittens or socks on your baby’s hands if you see that he’s scratching, specifically during sleep.).
How typical is psoriasis?
More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have psoriasis, and about 20 percent of them have moderate to severe cases. It takes place similarly in males and females, and a bit regularly in Caucasians than African Americans. Psoriasis is uncommon in Native Americans and uncommon amongst Asians.
You can get psoriasis at any age, but it appears frequently in between the ages of 15 and 35. One in 10 psoriasis patients establishes the condition during childhood, and 75 percent of patients show symptoms prior to the age of 40. The earlier psoriasis appears, the more likely it is to recur and to be prevalent.
Does psoriasis hurt?
It’s uncomfortable and in some cases even painful. It can be itchy, and if it’s bad enough, it can cause the skin to crack and bleed.
How can I tell whether it’s psoriasis or eczema?
Psoriasis usually looks worse than eczema — it’s more red and flaky, while eczema is typically pink and less scaly, although rougher in texture. Your baby’s doctor can help you sort it out by examining your baby’s skin and perhaps taking a small skin sample for examination under a microscope.
Is it contagious?
No. Psoriasis is a reaction of the immune system and not caused by a virus or bacteria, so it’s not contagious. It does not even spread out on your child’s skin.
How can I treat psoriasis in my baby?
Start with a visit to your baby’s doctor to talk about the best course of treatment. Because psoriasis is unusual in children and can look much like other rashes, she’ll want to validate that the rash you’re seeing is really psoriasis. If it’s specifically severe or consistent, she might refer you to a skin doctor.
There are many different alternatives for treating psoriasis, depending upon the type of psoriasis, the location of the rash, and how severe it is. If it’s fairly mild, the doctor can prescribe a topical medication that’s safe and efficient. And easy remedies– like adding oil to bathwater or using an excellent moisturizer on the skin– can likewise help.
If your baby’s psoriasis is more severe, it might need to be treated with light therapy or even oral medication. If itching is an issue, the doctor may likewise prescribe antihistamines, and if it appears like there’s a bacterial infection (from scratching the rash, for example), she’ll recommend oral antibiotics.
Will my child constantly have psoriasis?
Psoriasis tends to be chronic and cyclical, flaring up and calming down, and even going into remission from time to time and then reappearing. In other words, the condition is unpredictable– there’s no chance to understand when an outbreak will hit, the length of time it will last, or whether the condition might be chosen great. With help from a skin doctor, however, you can help your child through it.