When it comes to skin conditions, psoriasis can be confusing and even frightening, particularly if you’re not sure what you’re looking at. Even though it might not seem like much at first, managing the condition before it gets worse can be aided by identifying early signs.
Psoriasis frequently manifests in its early stages as tiny, red skin patches that may also be slightly elevated. These patches occasionally don’t hurt at all, but they can occasionally be itchy or burn. Additionally, the skin may begin to flake or appear scaly, giving the appearance of being dry.
The elbows, knees, scalp, or even the area behind the ears are among the body parts where these patches may appear. Even though they might begin small, if left untreated, they can enlarge over time. It’s important to recognize the early signs of psoriasis in order to receive the right treatment and stop further complications.
| Feature | Initial Stage Appearance |
| Skin Color | Red or pink patches |
| Surface | Dry and scaly |
| Texture | Raised or thickened areas |
| Size | Small, often expanding over time |
| Location | Commonly on elbows, knees, or scalp |
In its early stages, psoriasis frequently manifests as tiny, red, scaly patches on the skin, most frequently on the scalp, lower back, elbows, or knees. The skin around these areas may feel dry and rough to the touch, and the spots may be itchy or slightly elevated. In order to control symptoms and stop flare-ups from getting worse, early detection is crucial.
- The first signs
- Differences from other diseases
- Video on the topic
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The first signs
Although it may not seem easy, attentive parents can overcome any obstacle when their child has the early stages of scaly lichen, the second official name for psoriasis. Because it appears as the first indication that the disease has started, this stage is known as early. The child’s skin develops little pink or red pimples. Their surface is slightly glossy, but it changes quickly and lasts for several days. The papules’ head starts to peel prominently and turn gray or silvery.
The epithelium peels off easily with a light touch, revealing a glossy, bright pink surface underneath.
The papules protrude slightly above the skin level. They quickly increase in size, merge with each other, forming so-called psoriatic plaques. If you remove dry silvery or whitish scales from the plaque (and this is very easy to do), the skin underneath them will be so thin that it becomes easily vulnerable, and even a small impact can cause bleeding due to the increased number of capillaries. The initial stage of psoriasis in children in about half of all cases is accompanied by a symptom such as itching. The child will try to scratch the papules. Abundant growth of plaques completes the initial stage, which usually lasts several weeks. The progressive phase of the disease begins.
Symptoms of the initial stage largely depend on what type of psoriasis has affected the child. With the reverse form, for example, there are no pronounced papules, but there are red, smooth, non-protruding spots above the skin in the folds of the skin, in the groin, on the elbows, under the arms. With guttate psoriasis, the rash at the initial stage resembles bright red or purple specks-drops of small size. They appear over a large area, sometimes covering the entire body. With a rather dangerous pustular psoriasis, the skin is covered with pustules, which are filled with a watery transparent liquid, and with erythrodermic psoriasis, large fragments of desquamation appear – peeling, large pieces of the epidermis separate.
Psoriasis commonly affects the elbows and knees; rashes can also occur on the body, arms, face, neck, and scalp.
The first papules in newborns, infants, and young children up to two years old almost always occur in the skin’s folds. The first papules typically show up on the arms and legs of children older than two. Nail psoriasis can be a separate condition that affects only the nail plates, or it can coexist with general psoriasis. The nail plate partially discolors after tiny depressed dots and longitudinal stripes start to appear on the plates. The nail appears massive and thick, and it can peel off entirely if left untreated.
Differences from other diseases
It is important to distinguish psoriasis from other possible childhood dermatological problems. Papules of psoriasis differ from allergies in a more saturated color. With the start of taking antihistamines, the allergic rash decreases and fades, this does not happen with psoriatic papules and plaques. They continue to grow and expand. The initial manifestations of psoriasis differ from diaper dermatitis in outline and color. Miliaria, diaper rash and dermatitis do not have such clear and even papular edges. In addition, papules with psoriasis are not affected by powder, air, which help to quickly rid the child of prickly heat. Plaques of psoriasis continue to grow, powder causes even more severe peeling on them, since it additionally dries the skin.
The lack of other symptoms sets psoriasis apart from bacterial and viral infections, which also cause papules and pustules to appear on the skin. Most infectious rashes are contagious and are accompanied by fever, joint and muscle pain, and respiratory symptoms. There are no such symptoms with psoriasis.
Early diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis can be essential to its successful management. Psoriasis typically starts out as small, red patches on the skin, which may also be a little bit dry or scaly. Although they can show up anywhere on the body, these early symptoms are usually located on the scalp, knees, or elbows.
These patches may enlarge and become more noticeable as the condition worsens, possibly developing into plaques covered in silvery scales. It’s crucial to keep a careful eye on these changes and to get medical help if the patches start to spread or if you notice any strange changes to your skin.
Early diagnosis and intervention can aid in symptom management and stop more serious issues. A healthcare professional should be consulted if you or your child begins to exhibit psoriasis symptoms in order to determine the best course of action for management and treatment.
