The clinical spectrum of psoriasis

Abstract

The clinical picture of psoriasis is not uniform. Being one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorders, psoriasis may present in many different forms and may include extracutaneous manifestations. Classifications have been proposed based on disease onset or the clinical course of psoriasis. Chronic plaque psoriasis occurs in a variety of clinical forms primarily distinguished by size, distribution, and dynamics of psoriatic plaques. In addition, psoriasis inversa, localized and generalized pustular forms, erythrodermic psoriasis, as well as a number of more uncommon forms have been recognized, a distinction on clinical grounds that is relevant for the overall prognosis and impact on the patients' quality of life as well as for the choice of therapy. The broad and rather colorful clinical spectrum of psoriasis as well as implications for clinical practice will be comprehensively reviewed in this article.