Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsScalp PsoriasisPlaque PsoriasisPsoriasis on the FaceNail PsoriasisGuttate PsoriasisMeasuring SeverityTreatmentWhen to Seek CareComplications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Scalp Psoriasis
Plaque Psoriasis
Psoriasis on the Face
Nail Psoriasis
Guttate Psoriasis
Measuring Severity
Treatment
When to Seek Care
Complications
Psoriasiscan be mild, moderate, or severe. Mild psoriasis means the disease affects less than 3% of the body.To be considered mild, theautoimmune skin conditionmust be easily treated and have little effect on your quality of life.
With psoriasis, the immune system attacks healthy tissue, leading to skin cell overgrowth. Some types of psoriasis that can present as mild include:
You can usually manage the early stages of these types with home remedies, over-the-counter creams, or prescription medication.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Symptoms of Mild Psoriasis
Symptoms of psoriasis can differ depending on the type of psoriasis you have.
Common symptoms of psoriasis include:
Symptom intensity can distinguish mild psoriasis from moderate or severe disease.For example, psoriasis may be considered severe if plaques are very thick, red, scaly, or itchy, the skin peels, inflamed skin is extremely painful, or there is a significant effect on your quality of life.
Mild Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis is mild when it appears as fine scaling.Severe scalp psoriasis tends to be thick with crusted plaques that cover large areas of the scalp.
Scalp psoriasis, even when mild, can extend beyond the hairline to the forehead, back of the neck, and around the ears. It might be mistaken forseborrheic dermatitis, another skin condition that affects the scalp and might present similarly.
Mild Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis.It causes skin cells to build up, creating plaques.
Plaques may have white or silver-colored scales on lighter skin. On darker skin, they may appear as purple patches with gray-colored scales.
Most people with plaque psoriasis experience it as a mild to moderate condition.Mild plaque psoriasis will cover less than 3% of the body, while moderate covers 3% to 10%.
For some, plaque psoriasis can present as a severe disease that affects more than just large skin areas. It might affect other body areas and lead topsoriatic arthritis(PsA), which primarily affects the joints.
Mild Psoriasis on the Face
Around 50% of people with psoriasis will have it on their face.Facial psoriasis will occur on the eyebrows, the skin between the nose and upper lip, the forehead, and the hairline.
The research on facial psoriasis shows the condition tends to be mild.Even so, treating skin lesions on the face is challenging. You need to choose mild products.
Mild Nail Psoriasis
Psoriasis on the nails causes changes in the nails that can include:
There are a number of treatments used for nail psoriasis, but it can take effort to find the right one, and it takes longer for them to be effective compared to remedies for other types of psoriasis.
Guttatepsoriasis causes red, purple, or dark spots on the skin, but these spots are not as thick as the ones seen in plaque psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis occurs in children or young adults after an infection.
This type of psoriasis is typically benign (harmless) and clears within three or four months, but its long-term prognosis is unknown.
Around one-third of the children who get guttate psoriasis will develop plaque psoriasis later in life.
Psoriasis Symptoms, Types, and Images
How Is Psoriasis Severity Measured?
Psoriasis is usually measured on a scale of mild to severe. There is no exact measure for disease severity. Healthcare providers and researchers will rely on different tools.
The most commonly used tools are body surface area (BSA), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
Extensor Surfaces: Location and Common Skin Conditions
Mild Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis cannot be cured but can be managed. Symptoms may go away for a period of time, but psoriasis is a lifelong skin condition that can flare up at any time.
During flare-ups, you can usepsoriasis treatmentsto ease symptoms. Your healthcare provider will recommend treatments based on your type of psoriasis, how much of your skin is affected, the impact on your life, and your overall health.
Treatments may include the following:
Supplements for Psoriasis: Which Ones Have Benefits or Risks?
When to Seek Medical Care for Mild Psoriasis
If you suspect you have psoriasis, you should seek medical attention. This is especially important if other family members have psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or other autoimmune diseases.
If you have already been diagnosed with psoriasis, you should reach out if:
Complications of Psoriasis
Whether mild, moderate, or severe, psoriasis is not dangerous if it’s treated and managed.
However, this is a whole-body disease, which means if it’s not managed it can affect multiple body systems and can lead to serious complications, including:
In addition, some types of psoriasis (e.g.,erythrodermic psoriasisandpustular psoriasis) are more dangerous than others and can be life-threatening if not adequately treated. Both erythrodermic psoriasis and pustular psoriasis require immediate medical attention and hospitalization.
Comorbidities in Psoriasis
Summary
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that is classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Plaque, scalp, facial, nail, and guttate types often present more mildly.
Psoriasis is a treatable condition and can stay mild if adequately managed. However, because it affects multiple body systems, it can lead to complications.
Your treatments for mild psoriasis include OTC remedies, topical medicines, light therapy, and sometimes oral or injectable medicines. Even with mild psoriasis, staying in touch with your healthcare provider and attending follow-up medical visits is essential.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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