If you are one of the millions who suffer from psoriasis, you may have heard about guttate psoriasis, characterised by small, teardrop-shaped lesions that often appear on the torso, arms, or legs. This article is a short guide on guttate psoriasis and offer natural ways to manage symptoms.
What is Guttate Psoriasis?
Guttate psoriasis is psoriasis that can appear as small, red dots on the skin, and children and young adults are most likely to develop it. It commonly surfaces on areas like the chest, back, and legs. Dots are usually less crusty than other forms of psoriasis.
Causes
Like most forms of psoriasis, the underlying cause of guttate psoriasis is linked to an overreactive immune system. In guttate psoriasis, a bacterial infection such as strep throat, can trigger the immune system to go into overdrive and produce the characteristic red, scaly skin lesions.
Symptoms of Guttate Psoriasis
The most common symptom of guttate psoriasis is a sudden outbreak of tiny, red dots or bumps. These dots are usually and may be itchy or sore. Other symptoms may include:
- A burning or stinging sensation on certain skin areas
- Red, scaly patches on the skin
- Thickened, pitted nails
- Joint pain
Guttate Psoriasis Triggers
As with other forms of psoriasis, specific triggers can cause a flare-up of guttate psoriasis. A typical environmental trigger is a stress, which can cause the immune system to overreact. Skin injuries, such as sunburn, cuts, or scrapes can also trigger a flare-up. Inflammation in other body areas, such as the joints or gut, can also lead to an outbreak of guttate psoriasis.
If you are dealing with this type of psoriasis, consider Hanna’s natural healing protocol. Healing the skin from within is part of Hanna's holistic approach to managing skin conditions.
Probiotics
Probiotics can improve gut health, in turn reducing inflammation throughout the body and strengthening the immune system.
Our multi-strain biotic is a liquid supplement that contains live bacteria to help to restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut. Dosed at 15ml per day, our Biotic is a specific skin clear complex.
Exfoliators
Guttate psoriasis can often lead to dead skin cells on the skin's surface. This can exacerbate the condition and make it difficult for topical treatments such as moisturisers to penetrate the skin. Exfoliating with our gentle exfoliator will help remove dead skin cells, allowing moisturisers to work more effectively. Enriched with pumpkin, our natural exfoliator is soothing and gentle.
Know Your Triggers
One person's psoriasis may not affect another. It's essential to be aware of your personal triggers to avoid them where possible. Keeping a food or health diary is an excellent way to track your flare-ups and identify what causes your outbursts of guttate psoriasis.
Topical treatments
Topical, natural moisturisers formulated with enriching ingredients can help to improve the appearance of psoriasis. Our skin saviour balm is a topical treatment that can be applied directly to the skin to help soothe itchiness and irritation. Enriched with grape seed oil and Indian frankincense, the emollient-based cream is rich in nutrients that help to soothe and protect the skin, reduce inflammation, and speed up the healing process.
Probiotics, exfoliators, and moisturisers are all part of an effective skincare routine for guttate psoriasis. For more information on Hanna's skin-healing lifestyle and regimen, please read her best-selling books, ‘Radiant’ and ‘Skin Healing Expert’.