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<style justify> Common Symptoms

Plaque psoriasis is characterized by a few main symptoms. First and foremost are the plaques, or skin lesions, themselves. These lesions are often red or silvery in colour, inflamed, scaly or dry, and generally sore or itchy (WebMD, 2017). Plaques are hyperproliferated skin cells on the epidermal layer, and is attributed to premature maturation of keratinocytes and dermal inflammatory cells. These comprise of dendritic cells, macrophages and T cells (Palfreeman et al., 2013). These skin cells with reproduce very quickly, and build up, eventually shedding in scales and patches. These patches are the most visible and obvious symptom of psoriasis, regardless of the type. Psoriasis sufferers are also afflicted by skin soreness, itchiness, and can even report a sensation of burning in the affected areas. For plaque psoriasis sufferers, approximately 50% may also experience scalp plaques (Healthline, 2017). These are similar in look to the bodily plaques. 

The location of plaques will change as the affected lesions begin to heal (Healthline, 2017). Newer patches may appear in different locations during future bouts. The symptoms of plaque psoriasis affect every sufferer differently, and no two people will experience exactly the same symptoms and plaque physiology.

The ‘Plaque’ in Plaque Psoriasis

The characteristic skin lesions of psoriasis take the form of raised plaques with silvery scales that can present on any part of the skin. The lesions usually begin as erythematous papules, and then tend to extend peripherally, eventually coalescing to form plaques (Raychaudhuri et al., 2014). However, in plaque psoriasis, the most common areas of the body that are afflicted are the scalp, back, and the extensor surfaces like knees and elbows (Palfreeman et al., 2013). Distribution of plaques on the body is generally random, and it varies greatly from patient to patient. Some may experience large coverage of the body in lesions, some may experiences plaques no larger than a dime.

New lesions can form at random, but also occur when the skin receives direct cutaneous trauma, and this is known as the Koebner phenomenon. Plaque psoriasis sufferers also experience the Auspitz phenomenon, where pinpoint bleeding occurs following a mild disruption of the superficial layer of the lesion. Plaque psoriasis is a chronic disorder, and reappearance of lesions do not necessarily occur in the same spots every time. Also, unlike inverse psoriasis, plaque psoriasis also does not afflict the genitals or armpits. </style>

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