The spectrum of psoriatic presentations is vast, ranging from isolated thick plaques on the scalp to no more than pitted fingernails. One form that is self limited and looks like an eruption of tiny red scaly bumps on the trunk occurs after a bout of streptococcal sore throat. Systemic problems are uncommon in psoriatics, but a distinctive type of arthritis, which affects the hands, feet or low back can develop. The characteristic, sharply-defined nature of the rash enables diagnosis without biopsy in most cases. The aim of treatment is control not cure.
Treatment is dependent on the type, location, and extent of psoriasis.
An important element of treating scalp psoriasis is getting rid of the 'armor plating' of thick scale so that therapeutic medicine can get to the active disease. Overnight treatments with products like Dermasmoothe or Keralyt are even more effective. Plaques on the body, if not too numerous, can be handled with a combination of petrolatum and high-potency steroids like Temovate, Psorcon, Halog, or Ultravate. These have the effect of diminishing scale formation and redness but chronic use depigments and thins skin. Intermittent rather than continuous treatments are less likely to lead to this sort of atrophy.