Inverse psoriasis is one of the several variant of psoriasis. This type of psoriasis affects the folds of the body, where there is frequent flexibility of skin to facilitate movement of body organs. It usually rises with red patches under the armpits, in between buttocks, under the breast of women, groin, navel, penis and lips. This variant of psoriasis does not give rise to scales, which is found in other variants, but is very itchy and painful. Since it is found in the fold areas of the skin, it is often mistaken as yeast or fungus. However, if inverse psoriasis (flexural psoriasis), is not treated in time, it may aggravate to the secondary stage giving rise to yeast and fungal infection. Yeast infection is usually linked with inverse psoriasis. However, medically, there is no authentication if the yeast infection gives rise to inverse psoriasis or vice-versa.

Inverse psoriasis is not similar to plaque psoriasis as the latter disease has eruptions of numerous scales. Inverse psoriasis affected area is distinct, confluent and more reddish in color. The affected areas of the skin with red patches are found to be smooth, which is itchy and painful. The patient feels uncomfortable and the psoriasis aggravates when the affected skin area rubs against each other. This may occur while walking, running or during exercises or during any such movement of the body that forces to rub the skin against each other. When the disease takes an acute form, the patient’s movement becomes painful.

Inverse psoriasis is a complex psoriasis and is stubborn in character. There are no specific medicines for its cure, except, medicines that are used for treating other variant of psoriasis. Doctors and skin specialists normally prescribe corticosteroid ointments or creams. As evident, these ointments or creams contain steroids, which provide temporary relief to the patient. For better treatment and beneficial results, it is prudent to treat simultaneously, inverse psoriasis with the medicines and topical ointments or creams and yeast with cream or other prescribed drugs.

Treatment for inverse psoriasis

Doctors find the treatment of inverse psoriasis difficult because the affected skins are ultra sensitive. To ameliorate the sensitiveness topical medicines such as ointments, creams or lotions is recommended. Occlusive dressing in the form of plastic wraps or hydrocolloid dressings are detrimental to inverse psoriasis as it accelerates moisture build up. Moreover, too much use of ointments or creams may tend to thin the skin and leave stretch marks. The skin of the inverse psoriasis is generally thin in nature and using such topical ointments or creams, for prolonged period, may create systemic and skin side effects. It is safe to apply topical ointments and creams having two percent hydrocortisone combined with antifungal ointments or creams.

Alternative topical medicines such as Dovonex or calcipotriene respond positively to inverse psoriasis. However, the application of these medicines gives rise to irritation and since the skin is too thin utmost precaution should be taken. Coal tar and anthralin cream also have the same properties. If the irritation subsists, it will only worsen the condition of the patient. Other topical medicines are Elidel and Protopic, which are medicines for treating eczema, relieves the irritation felt by the patient in the skin folds. These medicines have very strong property and should be used as a relief dose on a temporary basis. Prolonged use may have side effects, which may lead to skin cancer and similar other infections.

Systemic medicines used in inverse psoriasis, helps in lessening the symptoms and thus often prescribed by doctors. This is a strong medicine, which responds to the disease, but may not respond in some cases. However, to suppress the acuteness of the disease, methotrexate, acitretin and cyclosporine are administered. These medicines weaken the immune system and the patient gets relief. It is taken orally and the dermatologist or the consulting doctor decides the potency and doses. The medicines have side effects and the patient tend to have fatigue, vomiting tendency, nausea, acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, gastrointestinal ulcers as well as bleeding. Hence, the medicines should be administered under the watchful eye of the doctor.

Another treatment is biologics, which is in the form of injection. These injections like Enbrel and Stelara restrain cells that give rise to symptoms of inverse psoriasis. The side effects, which are normally found, are mild headaches and fatigue. Unless correctly diagnosed and strictly monitored the side effects can be very serious leading to brain infections, seizures or skin cancer.

Remedies for inverse psoriasis

Specific creams and powders are applied, to inverse psoriasis, to keep the affected areas of the skin dry. One such compound is Castellani’s Paint, which is blended by a pharmacist. This cream is then applied to the affected areas, which helps in drying the sores in the folds of the skin. The use of powder is also helpful. Many people suffering from inverse psoriasis apply the cream during sleep since it has a foul smell and use powder during daytime.

Inverse psoriasis is also treated for psoriasis plaque reduction, with herbs such as Oregon grape in a 10% cream and Aloe vera in a 0.5% cream (UMMC). Anecdotal reports of singular cases agree that herbs like Coleus forskohlii and Oregano oil when applied to inverse psoriasis patients, they get relief. Another herb, the burdock root, which is used as a blood purifier, helps in containing small patches of the affected area of the skin. The results are better when it is mixed with cleavers (University of Utah). However, whatever herbs one uses should be under the direct supervision of a specialist in the field.

Vitamins

Vitamins play an important role in alleviating the symptoms of inverse psoriasis by soothing the affected skin areas. Unauthenticated papers of UMCC suggest a cream with avocado oil blended with vitamin B-12 provides positive results to inverse psoriasis. Additionally the University of Utah claims that Vitamins A, C, E, D and the minerals selenium, zinc and sulfur blended forming Methylsulfonylmethane compound protects the affected skin laceration and cuts. The deficiency of vitamin A may cause aggravation to the inverse psoriasis. Therefore, vitamin A is necessary to enhance the elasticity of the skin. However, medicine, compound or topical ointments and creams should not be used without the advice and prescription of a competent doctor.

Psoriasis in general is disorder in the immune system of the body. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the root cause of the psoriasis than to treat it symptomatically. Symptomatic treatment suppresses the disease more than help in curing it totally. Diet and exercise is essential for an inverse psoriasis patient.

Filed under: Psoriasis

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