Pediatric Psoriasis Awareness

Articles

Aug 1

Psoriasis is a common condition which affects many people, as much as two to three percent of the world’s population. Individuals with psoriasis often begin to develop symptoms when they are a child or adolescent. Approximately ten percent of individuals with psoriasis develop symptoms before they are 10 years old. [WebMD] Psoriasis is typically characterized by dry, red, itchy patches of skin that develop anywhere on the body. In children or adults, psoriasis can range from mild and manageable symptoms to very severe. Although there is no known cure for this disease, there are many ways to manage symptoms and help lessen their severity.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is related to the health of an individual’s immune system. It can begin to develop at any age. It is unknown what causes psoriasis, but the immune system’s overactivity can cause cells to develop at a rapid rate and they begin to accumulate on the skin. This accumulation of skin cells results in these itchy, red patches. When a parent has psoriasis (or both parents), children are more likely to develop the disease. One important fact about psoriasis is that it is not contagious in any way. Children often will exhibit symptoms after contracting something like strep throat or a bacterial infection.

Psoriasis in Children

Although many different types of psoriasis exist, there are two which occur much more often in children. Compared to adults with psoriasis, children will often have psoriasis near their joints and on their face. The most common type of psoriasis in children is plaque psoriasis. This is typically characterized as the red, scaly, itchy patches that most people commonly associate with psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis often develops before plaque psoriasis and looks like smaller droplet shaped red dots on the arms, legs, back, or front of the truck.

In small children and infants, diaper rash is common. With regular treatment, diaper rash improves and goes away. Psoriatic diaper rash can occur and resembles typical diaper rash. One of the ways to know the difference is that the treatment for diaper rash will not improve psoriatic diaper rash.

There are other forms of psoriasis that children can have which are much less common such as pustular psoriasis (blisters), inverse psoriasis (in the skin folds), or erythrodermic psoriasis (covering the body).

Causes of Psoriasis in Children

While there is no clear indication of what directly causes psoriasis, experts have pointed to a few factors which might worsen or trigger the condition. Cold weather is one factor which can cause the skin to dry out and bring about symptoms. Any kind of skin irritation can aggravate psoriasis to worsen. Stress is a known trigger of psoriasis and in children, often a preventable one. It is critical that these factors are managed when they are expected to prevent more extensive outbreaks.

Treatment for Psoriasis

Managing symptoms is key for creating a treatment plan for psoriasis. When psoriasis is triggered, it is important to take measures to alleviate symptoms and try to prevent the flare-up from worsening. Healthcare professionals may recommend the use of topical treatments like creams, lotions, or ointments. With children, creams and ointments can become somewhat messy sometimes and may need to be applied multiple times throughout the day. Despite the potential mess, using a topical treatment can provide relief without a worry about side effects.

Other than treatment of the skin itself, other therapies include light therapy, medications, changes to diet, maintaining proper sleep, and getting enough exercise. Focusing on maintaining optimal health and reducing inflammation can have a positive impact on the symptoms of psoriasis.

Occupational Therapy

Children with psoriasis may benefit greatly from working with an occupational therapist. If lifestyle changes are needed in order to manage symptoms, an occupational therapist can help children adapt in many different ways. Their goal is to help their clients gain their maximum level of independence as they engage in their daily life. In addition to activities of daily living, occupational therapists can help children learn techniques to help them manage their stress, or engage in exercise to help them manage their symptoms. The pain and discomfort caused by psoriasis can take a mental toll on children in multiple ways, from the physical stress of being itchy to wanting to cover up or conceal the redness on the skin.

If you are looking for support for your child’s psoriasis, contact the team at Tilton’s Therapy. Our occupational therapists can help your child manage their symptoms and work toward promoting their overall well being. Our therapists work in the regions of Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, Oregon, and Hawaii. It can be a lot to adapt to a new way of living or deal with changes as your child grows and encounters new challenges. Connecting with others is important to help your family feel supported. There are many resources available to help parents find others who have similar experiences and share their knowledge through The National Psoriasis Foundation.

Find fun and kid-friendly resources to help your family stay healthy and happy. We feature tools parents can use at home to help their children learn how to regulate their stress and exercises to help them reach a place of calm.