Causes of Guttate Psoriasis

Overview

Psoriasis is a skin condition that can range from a mere nuisance to almost debilitating. Guttate psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis in that, instead of silvery scales, it causes small teardrop lesions to appear on the arms, middle of the body and legs. Guttate psoriasis is most common in people under the age of 30.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition in which the skin cells build up very quickly, which leads to lesions on the skin. These skin lesions are the result of the skin cells dividing too rapidly, causing a surge in their number, which pushes them to the skin's surface. According to the NIH, guttate psoriasis is an autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's system mistakes normal cells for infected or damaged cells and attacks them. In the case of guttate psoriasis, a kind of white blood cell called T cells attacks the skin cells, causing them to become inflamed. As a result of this inflammation, the skin cells begin to rapidly reproduce.

Streptococcus

Guttate psoriasis is thought to be an inherited disease, which means it is passed down genetically. It usually develops very suddenly in response to certain "triggers" that cause the aberrant immune system activation. The most common trigger for guttate psoriasis is infection from a bacteria called streptococcus (commonly in the form of strep throat).

Other Triggers

Although strep throat is the most common trigger for guttate psoriasis, there are others. These include other viral or bacterial infections, especially if they infect the upper part of the respiratory system. Other triggers include stress, certain medications (such as those used to treat malaria or heart problems) and excessive alcohol consumption. Some skin injuries can trigger guttate psoriasis, including cuts, scrapes and burns (including sunburns).

Severe Guttate Psoriasis

According to the NIH, guttate psoriasis can be unusually severe in people who have AIDS because their immune system has already been affected by the disease. Similarly, people who are taking chemotherapy may have severe guttate psoriasis as their immune system replicates cells quickly to try and repair itself. People with other autoimmune diseases may also have extreme guttate psoriasis.