Presentations of psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common problem that tends to first appear in the late teens and 50s, and to wax and wane in severity; about 2% of the population is affected. The cause of this multisystem, inflammatory condition is not certain but there is a genetic predisposition and certain triggers such as stress, injury, streptococcal infections, excess alcohol, smoking and some medications, for example, ß-blockers, lithium, anti-malarials and NSAIDs.

Plaque psoriasis is a common mode of presentation, with scaly, red, single or multiple, circular or oval plaques, covered in a silvery scale, often symmetrically placed and commonly plaques on the elbows and knees.