Skin rashes are a common ailment. You’re not sure how yours got started, but it’s itching and bothering you.
Our board-certified dermatologists at A to Z Dermatology, with locations in Mesa, Sun City, Casas Grande, Gold Canyon, and Chandler, Arizona, are the professionals to see if you have a skin rash. Dermatologists are specially trained to identify and correctly diagnose your rash so that you receive prompt treatment and relief. You may have a chronic condition called psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that causes itching and other troublesome symptoms. You may have heard the term from seeing ads on television for prescription drugs to treat the condition. Now you may have it.
There are different kinds of psoriasis, but 80 to 90 percent of people who have psoriasis have what’s called plaque psoriasis. In this form of psoriasis, a buildup of excess skin cells causes scaly skin that can appear in different spots on your body.
Cells in your skin, as elsewhere in your body, are always dying and regenerating. Your skin cells start to form in the inner dermis of your skin, move slowly to the surface, and then drop off.
Psoriasis causes your skin to produce too many skin cells too rapidly. The normal life cycle of a skin cell is about one month. When you have psoriasis, your body produces new skin cells in a matter of days instead of the normal month. The overproduction of cells ends up on your skin surface. The older cells haven’t been given time for your body to discard them before the new ones appear.
Psoriasis can occur anywhere on your body, but the most common places include your scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
Researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes psoriasis, but it likely has a genetic component. Following are five signs that your rash is psoriasis. Your A to Z board-certified dermatologist diagnoses your skin rash promptly. If it is psoriasis, she has several modes of treatment to calm your symptoms.
If your skin has developed red, inflamed and scaly patches, your rash is likely plaque psoriasis, the most common type of the disorder. The raised area of scaly skin is called a plaque. Psoriasis plaques can occur anywhere on your body, but the most common places include your scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
If the raised, red patches of skin have a silvery white color, your rash may be psoriasis. The silver color is a hallmark of this rash.
Another hallmark of psoriasis is itching. If your rash is painful and causes itching, it may be psoriasis. You should not scratch the scaly spot, as that makes the plaques worse. Call A to Z Dermatology for an appointment to correctly diagnose and treat your skin rash.
If your skin cracks and bleeds, you need medical attention. The skin on psoriasis plaques can open and bleed.
You may have a form of psoriasis that attacks your joints: psoriatic arthritis. Your joints are painful, stiff, and/or swollen.
Because there are several different forms of psoriasis, including one called pustular psoriasis that can form pus-filled capsules on red skin, and because so many rashes look somewhat similar, it’s important to see a specialist to receive the correct diagnosis the first time.
Call or book an appointment online with A to Z Dermatology today if you have a skin rash and for all of your skin care needs.
