Psoriasis vs Hives: Cause, Symptoms and Treatment

Psoriasis and Hives are skin conditions that can be confused with each other. Both can result in urticaria itchy patches of red skin, although they have different causes. Both hives and psoriasis can spread to many places on the body or may be limited to one area of inflammation.

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I This makes the skin build up into bumpy red patches covered with white scales.

They can grow anywhere, but most appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. It can’t be passed from person to person. It does sometimes happen to members of the same family.

In people with psoriasis, this production process can occur within a few days. Because of this, there is no time for skin cells to fall. This leads to the formation of rapidly overproducing skin cells

Scales usually develop on the joints, such as the elbow and knee. They can develop anywhere on the body, including

• Guttate Psoriasis
• Scalp
• Neck
• Face
• Hands
• Feets
• Skin folds

Try these natural remedies to clear scalp dandruff.

Symptoms of Psoriasis

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• Red patches of skin covered with thick, silver scales.
• Itching and burning sensations around patches
• Dry skin that may crack and bleed
• Thick, pitted nails
• Swollen joints

Not everyone will experience all these symptoms. Some people will experience completely different symptoms if they have less common type. Patches can range from small dandruff patches to large eruptions that cover large areas.

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque Psoriasis

This is most common form, causes dry, raised, red skin lesions (plaques), which are covered with silver scales. Plaques may be itchy or painful and may be few or many.

Nail Psoriasis

Psoriasis can affect the fingernails and toenails, causing peeling, abnormal nail growth, and discoloration. Psoriatic nails may loosen and detach from the nail bed (onycholysis). In severe cases the nail may scramble.

Guttate Psoriasis

This type mainly affects young adults and children. It usually arises from a bacterial infection such as strep throat. It is marked by small, water-drop-size, scaling wounds on your trunk, arms, legs and scalp.

Inverse Psoriasis

It mainly affects the skin folds, around the genitals, below the breasts, in the armpits. Inverted psoriasis causes smooth patches of red, inflamed skin that worsen with friction and perspiration. Fungal infections can trigger this type of psoriasis.

Pustular Psoriasis

This unusual form can occur in a wide patch (generalized pustular psoriasis) or in small areas on your hands, feet or fingers.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis

The least common type, erythrodermic psoriasis can cover your entire body with red, peeling rash that can itch or burn intensely.

Psoriatic Arthritis

In addition to inflamed, papular skin, psoriatic arthritis causes inflamed, painful joints that are typical of arthritis. Sometimes joint symptoms are the first or only manifestation, or sometimes only nail changes are seen.

Triggers

This itchy disease typically starts or worsens because of a trigger that you may be able to identify and avoid. Factors that may trigger include:

• Infections, such as strep throat or skin infections
• Injury to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, a bug bite, or a severe sunburn
• Stress
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Certain medications like lithium, which is prescribed for bipolar disorder, high blood pressure medications such as beta blockers, antimalarial drugs, and iodides

Treatment Of Psoriasis

There is no cure for this disease. Treatment aim to reduce swelling and scales, slow the growth of skin cells, and remove plaques. Psoriasis treatments fall into three categories:

Topical treatment – Using alone, creams and ointments that are applied to your skin can effectively treat mild to moderate disease. When the disease is more severe, the cream may be combined with oral medications or light therapy. Topical treatments include:

• Topical corticosteroids Vitamin D analogues
• Anthralin 
• Moisturizers
• Topical retinoids
• Calcineurin inhibitors
• Salicylic acid
• Coal tar

Light therapy (phototherapy) – Natural or artificial ultraviolet light is used in this treatment. The simplest and easiest form of phototherapy involves exposing your skin to a controlled amount of natural sunlight.

• Sunlight
• UVB Phototherapy
• Narrow band UVB Phototherapy
• Goeckerman Therapy
• Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA)
• Excimer laser

Oral or injected medications – This is a systemic treatment. Some of the drugs are used only for brief period of time.

• Retinoids
• Methotrexate
• Cyclosporine
• Drugs that alter the immune system (biologics)
• Other medications

This is a chronic disease that often comes and goes. The main goal of treatment, is to stop the skin cells from growing so quickly.

I hope this article will help to understand the disease. Send me your queries and leave a comment below with your feedback. Be sure to sign up for my free newsletter to be the first to get new posts! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Thanks for Reading !!!