Psoriasis in infants

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes symptoms on the skin such as scaly red patches. People of all ages can get psoriasis, including infants and young children. However, although psoriasis can occur in infants, it is not common. In psoriasis, the immune system becomes overactive. Parts of it target healthy skin cells and cause inflammation and rapid overgrowth of skin cells. This condition accelerates the regeneration of skin cells, causing them to accumulate too quickly on the surface of the skin. As a result, excess skin cells can create dry, red, itchy and sometimes painful patches. In this article, we explain how babies get psoriasis, how it can affect them, and how it's diagnosed and treated.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that manifests in many forms. In particular, the two most common manifestations in children include:
Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type of psoriasis. If your child's skin shows red lesions covered with a flaky, silvery-white scab, he may have plaque psoriasis. Plaque can appear anywhere on a child's body, although it most commonly appears on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. Intestinal psoriasis. Intestinal psoriasis is most common in children, adults can also develop this psoriasis but it is relatively rare. The characteristic feature of intestinal psoriasis is that the lesions appear as small punctate lesions, often on the trunk and extremities instead of scaly or thick like plaques. There are cases of psoriasis with mild symptoms, only a few lesions, there are cases of moderate disease with about 3 to 10% of the child's skin area covered with scales. candle. There are also some cases where the disease manifests as severe, where more than 10 percent, possibly even the entire body, is covered with layers of psoriasis
Psoriasis is quite rare in infants. They are more likely to occur at this age when your baby has certain skin-related problems such as cradle cap seborrheic dermatitis (if it is on the baby's scalp) or a rash on the child's genital area. Also known as diaper rash. Another skin condition that can also produce red patches of skin with flaking scales is ringworm. In addition, eczema, which can be difficult to distinguish from psoriasis, is also one of the conditions that causes the skin to scab and peel. Therefore, to get the most accurate diagnosis of psoriasis, parents should take their children to a dermatologist.

Most skin cells grow and die every 28 to 30 days. If a child has psoriasis, the skin cells in the affected area shorten their growth cycle to just three to four days. The raised, scaly lesions we see are actually an accumulation of dead skin cells. The red color of those patches is due to the extra blood being pumped to the area.
Scientists still don't know why the body is able to make skin cells so quickly, but this change is thought to be related to the immune system. In addition, genetic factors are also one of the risks that increase the likelihood of psoriasis when studies have shown that about one-third of people with psoriasis have at least one family member with psoriasis. sick. However, a child can have psoriasis without a family history. Episodes of psoriasis that appear in childhood are sometimes triggered by another medical condition, like a cold or tonsillitis. Injuries to the skin - such as from scratching or rubbing - and stress can also make the problem worse. Doctors recommend that parents of children wear gloves and socks for their children, especially during sleep if the child shows signs of frequently scratching the psoriasis-affected skin.

More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have psoriasis, and about 20 percent of them have moderate to severe disease. There is no difference in incidence between the sexes, but there is a difference in incidence between races. Psoriasis is rare in Native Americans and uncommon in Asians.
Psoriasis can occur at any age, however it appears most often between the ages of 15 and 35. One in ten psoriasis patients develops the disease in childhood and 75 percent develops the symptoms. symptoms before the age of 40. The earlier psoriasis manifests, the higher the chance of recurrence and the larger the area of ​​skin where the psoriasis appears.

Psoriasis makes children feel uncomfortable and can sometimes be painful. They can also cause itching and, in severe cases, they can cause the skin to crack and bleed.

Children with skin psoriasis often look worse than eczema - it is redder and scaly, while eczema is usually pink in color and less scaly, although the texture is coarser. The doctor can help a child's parents tell the difference between psoriasis and eczema by examining their baby's skin and possibly taking a small sample of skin to examine under a microscope.
Psoriasis tends to be chronic and cyclical, meaning there will be flare-ups that subside, even remission over time, and then reappear. In other words, the condition is unpredictable - there is no way to know when a flare-up will appear, how long it will last, or whether the condition may go away over time. However, with the help of a dermatologist, parents can help their child overcome or even live with the disease.

One thing to keep in mind is that psoriasis is caused by an immune system response and not by bacteria or viruses, so they are not contagious. They are not even likely to spread to other areas of the child's skin, so isolating the child is not necessary.
Treatment begins with a visit to the doctors to discuss the best treatment. Because psoriasis is uncommon in babies and can look similar to other rashes, your doctor wants to be sure that these signs are indeed psoriasis. If it's particularly severe or persistent, doctors may refer the baby's parents to a dermatologist.
There are different options for psoriasis treatment, depending on the type of psoriasis, the location of the rash, and its severity. If the disease is mild, your doctor may prescribe some safe and effective topical medications. Or use other simple measures like adding oil to your baby's bath water or using a skin moisturizer.
If your baby's psoriasis is more severe, the doctor may have to prescribe light therapy or even oral medication. If the illness makes your child feel uncomfortable, the doctor may prescribe some antihistamines. In case the disease is so severe that the skin is cracked and there are signs of infection, in addition to some of the drugs or treatments mentioned above, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics to fight the infection. .
Psoriasis is a skin condition that tends to be chronic that can affect infants, children, and adults alike. Psoriasis in infants is generally very rare. A diagnosis by a pediatric dermatologist may be required. The disease makes children feel uncomfortable, sometimes itchy or, in severe cases, the skin can crack, cause bleeding and even lead to infection. There are many treatments for psoriasis, depending on the type of disease, the severity of the disease and the area of ​​​​the skin affected by the disease.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package of examination and advice on treatment of atopic dermatitis to help customers assess the overall condition of the disease and advise on measures to help prevent recurrence.
When registering for a package of examination and consultation for treatment of atopic dermatitis, customers will receive: Dermatology specialist examination. Perform tests such as: quantitative IgE, fresh mycobacteria, specific IgE quantification with respiratory allergens - food (Panel 1 Viet), test Rida Allergy Screen (panel 1)...
If you have a need for medical examination at Vimec Health System nationwide, please make an appointment on the website to be served.

Reference sources: babycenter.com, healthline.com