August is Psoriasis Action Month. This year the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is using this month to unite those who live with this condition, raise awareness of it in those who don't, and encourage research into ways to combat this disease.
What is Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes rashes and skin ulcerations often covered in dry patchy skin known as plaque. These areas can be quite unsightly and may appear anywhere on the body, including under the hair and nails.
There are five main types of Psoriasis, and it is possible to have the symptoms of more than one type at a time.
Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque Psoriasis is the most common form of this disease. It is characterized by areas of the skin that are raised, discolored, and may be itchy and painful.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Erythrodermic Psoriasis is the most dangerous form of this disease and is thankfully very rare. It commonly occurs in people who have already been dealing with the plaque version of this disease. It involves a red, oozing rash that covers the entire body and may cause heart dysfunction and problems controlling one's body temperature. In rare cases, this version of Psoriasis is fatal.
Guttate Psoriasis
With Guttate Psoriasis, the patient will develop small round bumps on their skin, known as papules. These may be the same color of the skin or may be darker or lighter, depending on the color of the skin they appear on. These papules are usually spread across the entire body and may appear suddenly after a streptococcus infection.
Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse Psoriasis often accompanies plaque psoriasis. The red and raised lesions are found in dark, moist areas, such as the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and deep skin folds. These skin irritations do not usually develop plaque, perhaps because these areas tend to be moist.
Pustular Psoriasis
Pustular Psoriasis is characterized by red, painful, pus-filled bumps called pustules. It is a rare type of Psoriasis and may show up in those already suffering from plaque.
Treatments for Psoriasis
The exact treatment for your Psoriasis will be determined by your type of disease and how severe your symptoms are. Some common treatments include:
- Corticosteroid Creams
- OTC creams that contain coal tar and salicylic-acid
- Oral Medications including Xeljanz, Methotrexate, Cyclosporine and Otezla
Let RxLess Ease the Cost
If you have been diagnosed with Psoriasis or other skin problems and received prescriptions for medications, the RxLess discount card will save you money on them.
The RxLess discount card is excepted by major pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid, as well as smaller, local ones. All you have to do is search by the name of the prescription, choose which pharmacy you would like to pick the medicine up from, and print or download a copy of the card. Show the card to the pharmacists and watch the savings on all of the medications you need for your health and wellness add up.
