Overview: What Is Pustular Psoriasis?

Pustular psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis affecting about 3% of people living with psoriasis. [1] Pustular psoriasis may be more common in some skin of color ethnicities. [2]

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that is caused by an overactive immune system and is associated with inflammation throughout the body. Symptoms may resolve and recur throughout a person's life.

Causes and Triggers

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. Psoriasis lesions occur because the overactive immune system speeds up skin cell growth. Normal skin cells completely grow and shed (fall off) in a month. With psoriasis, skin cells do this in only three or four days. Instead of shedding, the skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin.

Inflammation caused by psoriasis can impact other organs and tissues in the body. People with psoriasis may also experience related health conditions. One in three people with psoriasis may also develop psoriatic arthritis.

Several factors may trigger pustular psoriasis, including:

• Certain medicines (ex. antimicrobials or systemic steroids)
• Starting or stopping medicines
• Exposure to too much ultraviolet (UV) light
• Infections (ex. Streptococcus or Staphylococcus)
• Pregnancy
• Stress

Learn more about triggers and flares by requesting a free Flare Guide and Symptom Tracker.

Diagnosis

A health care provider will take several factors into consideration when making a diagnosis for psoriasis, including the appearance and location of the pustules.

Treatment & Management

Although there is no cure, there are more effective psoriasis treatments today than ever before. Treating psoriasis can help improve symptoms as well as lower the risk of developing psoriasis comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression.

Treatments for psoriasis include:

• Topicals, including over-the-counter topicals, topical steroids, and topical non-steroids
• Phototherapy
• Systemics, including oral, biologic, and biosimilar treatments

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent the onset of psoriasis, however, there are many ways that you can manage your triggers to reduce flares.

Outlook/Prognosis

Psoriatic disease is lifelong, and symptoms may resolve and recur throughout the lifetime.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, treatments today are more effective than ever before and research into new treatments, as well as a cure, is ongoing. Treating psoriasis can help improve symptoms and may decrease the associated inflammation that can lead to psoriasis comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, and depression.