What Is Pustular Psoriasis?

Pustular psoriasis is a psoriasis type found primarily in adults. The condition is a rare one and is marked by formation of pus-filled, non-infectious sores on the skin. The sores of pustular psoriasis can affect a large area of our body or can occur only as a localized skin disease. According to medical experts, patients with pustular psoriasis should be hospitalized immediately after detection of the disease as it can result in life threatening situations. Majority of the pustular psoriasis patients possess history of suffering from chronic plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is the most common psoriasis type.

How will you know that you have developed pustular psoriasis? During the initial phases, the skin of pustular psoriasis patients starts becoming tender and red. Then, which a few hours, blisters filled with pus develop in those areas. Breakouts can appear in all body parts, but the most commonly affected regions are the feet, hands and genitals. Pustular psoriasis gets manifested in cycles in form of pustules, which when burst form large pus filled pools. Eventually, the pus dries up and the skin gets peeled resulting in formation of a smooth and glazy surface. This is often followed by formation of new pustules. This cycle continues for some days or weeks. Other than appearance of pustules, pustular psoriasis patients might experience other symptoms like fevers accompanied by chills, decreased appetite, muscle weakness, nausea, increased pulse rate, fatigue and headache.

Pustular psoriasis can be of 3 types; they are: Von Zumbusch, palmoplantar pustulosis and acropustulosis. The first type, i.e. Von Zumbusch develops extremely fast; Von Zumbusch affects large portions of our body. The condition include occurrence of similar cycles that we have discussed above. The next type of pustular psoriasis, i.e. palmoplantar pustulosis is marked by formation of pustules mainly in the patient’s soles, palms, sides of heels and base of thumbs. The pustules appearing in patients with palmoplantar pustulosis are of studded pattern and cover the red plaques on the skin. The most rarely occurring type of pustular psoriasis i.e. acropustulosis affects body parts like ends of the toes and fingers. The lesions of acropustulosis usually appear following skin infections and injuries.