Flexural Psoriasis

Definition

Flexural Psoriasis is a non-infectious auto-immune disease, caused by activation of T-cells within the skin. Flexural Psoriasis is also called Inverse Psoriasis. Flexural Psoriasis can occur at any time of life, but most commonly appears in the early 20s, and can occur in both men and women and tends to occur more in fair skinned people. In flexural psoriasis, there may be a crack in the depth of the skin crease. It is a form of psoriasis found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and in other flexion creases such as those around the genitals and buttocks. It often results in redness and inflammation, with scaly, dead skin on the surface.

Causes of Flexural Psoriasis

• Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking may also lead to flexural psoriasis.
• Persons living in cold temperature regions are at more risk of developing flexural psoriasis.
• Steroids and some other medications can cause flexural psoriasis as a side effect.
• Certain medicines, including lithium salt and beta blockers have been reported to trigger or aggravate the disease.
• Any abnormality in the immune system, may lead to the condition of flexural psoriasis.
• One of the main cause of flexural psoriasis may be yeast overgrowth, as well as high sensitivity to friction and/or sweating.
• Environmental factors are thought to trigger psoriasis in people who have a genetic tendency toward the disease.
• Injury: Sometimes even mild injuries to the skin such as abrasions can trigger a psoriasis flare.
• Flexural psoriasis is more frequent and severe in people who are overweight because it mainly occurs on skin folds and overweight person have lot of them.
• The emotional stress such as depression and anxiety are strongly associated with psoriasis flare-ups
• A bacterial or viral infection can cause a flexural psoriasis.

Symptoms of Flexural Psoriasis

Symptoms of Flexural Psoriasis includes:

• Frequent shedding of silvery scales may be seen.
• Pain and itchiness in the affected area.
• Sensitivity to friction and sweating.
• Flexural Psoriasis can occur anywhere in our body, but commonly they occur on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back.
• Itching, especially during sudden flare-ups or when the psoriasis patches are in body folds, such as under the breasts or the buttocks.
• Nail disorders may be found in peoples with flexural psoriasis.

Treatments of Flexural Psoriasis

• Patients often prefer to use topical steroids as these are clean, easy to use and soothing. Topical steroids are very useful for treating flexural psoriasis. Topical steroid lotions may be applied under affected nails for onycholysis.
• Emollients may include keratolytic agents such as urea or salicylic acid, that are very effective for the treatment of flexural psoriasis.
• Rest: Rest, particularly bed rest, is beneficial for flexural psoriasis.
• People with severe flexural psoriasis may require systemic drugs such as methotrexate to control the condition.
• Other treatments for Flexural or inverse Psoriasis include exposure to sunlight or photo therapy. The skin is sensitized by applying coal tar ointment or by taking oral psoralens. The person is then exposed to ultraviolet light.
• Soaking in warm water with a bath oil or tar solution can often help cure psoriasis and lift the scale. Bland soaps or soap substitutes may be useful. Antiseptics are not necessary and may irritate.
• Steroid creams and ointments are considered very effective for the treatment of flexural psoriasis.