What Is Guttate Psoriasis?
Guttate means ‘drop-like’ and is used to describe a type of psoriasis that is often the first manifestation in adolescents and young adults. It is an example of infection triggering the disease and often follows a sore throat, especially when a bacterium called Streptococcus is the cause. Very small, drop-like patches of psoriasis appear on the trunk and limbs, and may slowly clear on their own after several months – though it can be a good idea to get a suitable psoriasis treatment to get rid of it. This can look quite dramatic, sometimes like having been splattered with red paint. Having an attack of guttate psoriasis does not necessarily mean that you will go on to develop other forms of the disease, but it may return if you suffer from the same type of infection again, so it is very important to see your GP quickly if you have had it before and feel another sore throat coming on.
Is there any way of preventing nails from pitting?
No. Pitting occurs when psoriasis affects the nail as it is formed. The tough horny layer forming the nail is weakened and partially collapses, forming pits 1 mm or less in diameter. They are usually randomly scattered on the nail and can affect both the fingernails and toenails.
I have psoriasis in my ears. Will I go deaf?
The ear canals leading from the outside to the eardrum are simply rolled up tubes of skin, so psoriasis can occur there. It will not cause permanent deafness from damage to the ears, but it can lead to the canal being blocked with scales and wax, muffling the hearing. Traditional treatment can be difficult (though your could try the Psoriasis Free For Life report), and you might need to have your ears cleaned out at the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department of your local hospital. Do not be tempted to try to clean out the ears with cotton buds as this can compact the debris at the end of the canal and make the problem far worse.
Can I get psoriasis in my mouth?
It is possible to get psoriasis in the mouth as it can affect the mucous membranes – the term for the lining of internal surfaces such as the mouth and gut. This is quite rare, though, and tends to occur only with severe psoriasis, especially the pustular type. There is a weak link between psoriasis and a condition called ‘geographic tongue’, in which the surface of the tongue varies in texture and color from loss of the normal roughness to increased reddening of the smoother areas. It can look like the outline on a map, hence its name.
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