Clinical Pediatric Dermatology Open Access

Pediatric Psoriasis

Maggy Lessie^* Department of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Alabama, United States of America
^*Correspondence: Maggy Lessie, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Alabama, United States of America, Tel: +12957856664, Email:

Received: 20-Sep-2021, Manuscript No. IPCPDR-21-10617; Editor assigned: 22-Sep-2021, Pre QC No. IPCPDR-21-10617 (PQ); Reviewed: 06-Oct-2021, QC No. IPCPDR-21-10617; Revised: 10-Oct-2022, Manuscript No. IPCPDR-21-10617 (R); Published: 17-Oct-2022, DOI: 10.36648/2472-0143.8.6.28

Editorial

Psoriasis is a disease that causes itchy, dry patches on your skin. Up to 40% of people with psoriasis have symptoms before they're 16 years old, and 10% get it before they're 10 children can have mild, moderate, or severe psoriasis. It's a lifelong condition with no cure, but you can treat the symptoms with medication. Most pediatric cases of psoriasis are mild and get better with treatment. Psoriasis isn't contagious. Often, a bacterial infection like strep throat triggers psoriasis for the first time in children. Other kids get certain genes from their parents that make them more likely to get it. Things that raise a child's risk of getting the disease also include: Being obese, certain medications, like lithium, beta blockers, or malaria drugs, cold weather, cuts, scratches, sunburn, or rashes on the skin, high levels of stress.

Types of Psoriasis in Children

There are five types of psoriasis, but some are much more common in children than others. The symptoms can show up differently in children, too. For example, they're more likely to have psoriasis on their face or around joints. The two types children are most likely to get are:

Plaque psoriasis: Most kids who have psoriasis have this type. It causes red, dry patches called plaques. It can also cause silvery scales. The plaques or scales usually show up on knees, elbows, lower back, and the scalp. They're itchy, red, and sometimes painful. They can also bleed. Plaque psoriasis patches are smaller, thinner, and less scaly in children than in adults.

Guttate psoriasis: This kind is also called "drop like" psoriasis. It causes small red dots to form on the trunk, back, arms, and legs. It's most likely to be triggered by a strep infection. Many children who get this type of psoriasis also develop plaque psoriasis. Children under 2 can get psoriatic diaper rash. It happens on the skin that's covered up by the diaper. It may show up like plaque psoriasis, or it may cause a bright red, weeping rash. You can tell the difference between psoriatic diaper rash and regular diaper rash because psoriatic diaper rash doesn't get better with regular diaper rash treatment.

Less Common Types of Psoriasis in Children

Pustular psoriasis: This shows up as blisters on red or swollen skin on the hands and feet. If a child does get it, it's typically either milder than an adult would have or a kind called annular pustular psoriasis that causes a red ring around the blisters.

Inverse psoriasis: This happens in the folds of the body: Under the knee, in the armpit, or around the groin. It looks very red, smooth, and shiny.

Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is a severe form that can be life threatening. It causes redness over most of the body. It's very itchy and painful and can make skin come off in sheets.

Diagnosis

A doctor usually can tell whether it's psoriasis by looking carefully at your child's skin, nails, or scalp. To be sure, they might also remove a small sample of skin and send it to a lab for a closer look. They’ll also ask about your family history and habits.

Treatment: Most children have mild psoriasis you can treat with a cream, lotion, or ointment that's spread onto the skin. These include: Anthralin, calcipotriene (a form of vitamin D), coal tar, corticosteroids.