Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects approximately 1 million Canadians. There are several types of psoriasis that can range in severity. In this section we will explore what psoriasis is, the symptoms, triggers and risk factors that you should be aware of as well as how it is measured and the processes that cause it.
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The objective of the contest is to increase awareness of the challenges of living with psoriasis, to introduce our new video and to mark World Psoriasis Day 2016
About the contestCanadian Youth are invited to view the video below and then submit artwork based on the following theme:
Breaking Barriers:
* Fight prejudice, stigmatization, discrimination
* Raise awareness and hope by spreading knowledge and understanding
* Gain access to treatments for an improved quality of life
Art work should be representative of the theme (or any one of the sub-themes) in how it relates to pediatric psoriasis.
Note: artists do NOT have to have psoriasis to be eligible.
Art will be judged based on creativity and best use of theme and cash prizes ($150) will be awarded in three age categories:
Primary – Grades 1-4
Intermediate – Grades 5-8
Senior – Grades 9-12
All submitted artwork will be featured in an online art gallery on our website. Be sure to include the name and the grade of the artist.
Please click here to review art work specifications
All art can be sent electronically to info@canadianpsoriasis.ca
Original Art can be mailed to
Canadian Association of Psoriasis Patients
136-2446 Bank St, Suite 383
Ottawa, ON K1V 1A8
Deadline for entries is October 12, 2016 at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on World Psoriasis Day, Octoer 29th 2016.
If you submit artwork as a class, and a winner is chosen from your class submission, an additional prize of $250 in the choice of a gift card, will be awarded for your class.
*Use of the Psoriasis Teddy bear is approved by the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. This teddy was used in their 2010 World Psoriasis Day activities.
Psoriasis affects many different people in many different ways. It is impossible to predict how it will affect you.
Psoriasis symptoms can be mild, moderate or even disabling, especially for psoriasis patients who develop psoriatic (pronounced so-ree-AH-tik) arthritis, which causes painful joints, inflammatory eye conditions and pitted, discoloured nails. Psoriasis tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months and then disappearing. Sometimes psoriasis goes into remission, but most of the time it returns.
The classic symptoms of psoriasis are raised, red patches of skin covered with loose, silvery scales. Other signs and symptoms include:
There are five types of psoriasis, identified by the presence of different types of psoriatic lesions. Usually, only one type of psoriasis appears at a time, but some people get different types at the same time. Sometimes, after one type of psoriasis clears, another type occurs. Or, one type of psoriasis may transform into another after exposure to a trigger, such as stopping certain psoriasis medications abruptly.
About 80% to 90% of people have plaque psoriasis. It is the most common type of psoriasis. Here’s what to look for:
The second most common type of psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, is more common in children and young adults under 30 years of age. It often starts suddenly and is often triggered by a bacterial infection such as strep throat or tonsillitis, skin injuries, stress or certain medications. Guttate psoriasis affects about 10% of people with psoriasis. It is sometimes followed by the development of plaque psoriasis, or it can be an exacerbation of plaque psoriasis.
Distinct, small (1 to 10 mm in diameter), droplet-shaped, reddish spots—often numbering in the hundreds—usually appear on the torso, arms and legs and sometimes on the scalp, ears and face. A fine scale, which is usually thinner than plaques, covers the spots.
This type of psoriasis mainly affects the skin in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, between the buttocks and around the genitals. Located in skin folds and on sensitive skin, it is easily worsened by rubbing and sweating. (It is also known as flexural psoriasis because it affects sites where the body regularly folds.) It is common in overweight people and people with deep skin folds. It can occur on its own but usually appears along with plaque psoriasis.
The classic signs of inverse psoriasis are smooth, shiny patches of very red, swollen skin.
Pustular psoriasis is rare and can be severe. It occurs in two forms: localized palmoplantar pustulosis, which affects the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and generalized pustular psoriasis, which affects large areas of the body. People with widespread patches need to go to the hospital for treatment, as their condition can be life-threatening. It can cause fever, chills, severe itchiness, dehydration, rapid pulse, anemia, exhaustion, weight loss and muscle weakness.
Generally, pustular psoriasis occurs rapidly. First, the skin gets red and tender, then white pus-filled blisters erupt a few hours later. The pus, which is made up of white blood cells, is not an infection and does not spread psoriasis from one person to another.
The blisters dry up, forming scales, in a few days, but they tend to go in a cycle—reappearing every few days or weeks.
Triggers include infections, stress, certain medications, injury to the skin, cold weather, metal allergies, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption.
Erythrodermic psoriasis (also known as exfoliative psoriasis or psoriatic exfoliative erythroderma) is the least common and most severe type of psoriasis. It covers the body with red, scaly, peeling lesions that can cover the entire body, including eyes, lining of the mouth and inside of the nose. It can itch and burn intensely. The skin swells and sheds multiple layers, often in large sheets. It is more common in men than in women.
Erythrodermic psoriasis may happen once or more often in the lifetime of 1% to 2% of people with psoriasis. It may happen gradually in a person with unstable plaque psoriasis or suddenly in someone who has never had psoriasis. It can be triggered by:
This type of psoriasis may be life-threatening and may require hospitalization. The loss of large areas of skin disrupts the body’s chemistry and may lead to severe illness, such as infection, pneumonia and congestive heart failure. It may raise the heart rate and cause problems with maintaining normal body temperature and fluid levels. Fever is common.
If you have been diagnosed with psoriasis, take heart; while the physical symptoms can seem like an enormous burden at first, there are things you can do and people who can help.
Here are some suggestions.
The in-depth guide below will give you a variety of tools to get you started or supplement what you already know. Ultimately, we hope that you will help us to make this guide even better by sharing what has worked for you and what has not.
Your story is important, and sharing it is a way to help yourself while also helping others.
Psoriasis (pronounced so-RYE-a-sis) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the regeneration of skin cells.
Normal skin cells grow, mature and are shed as part of a natural cycle that takes 28 to 30 days. Psoriasis is a common skin condition that happens when faulty signals in the body’s immune system trigger new skin cells to form in three to four days instead. Because the skin cells grow too quickly, they are not shed normally. Instead, they pile up on the skin’s surface, creating sores or lesions – often called plaques. Thick, silvery scales form atop these itchy and sometimes painful red patches.
Psoriasis usually affects the elbows, knees and scalp, but it can also occur on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, nails, genitals and torso.
If you suspect that you might have psoriasis or if you’ve received a formal diagnosis, you can take some comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. Nearly a million Canadians are affected by psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a persistent, chronic condition that may come and go – flare up then go into remission.
During flare-ups, psoriasis causes itchiness and pain in the inflamed skin. Under this stress, the skin may crack and bleed. There is no cure for psoriasis, but treatment can interrupt the psoriasis cycle and significantly relieve its symptoms and appearance.
Psoriasis can range from a few dandruff-like scales to widespread patches that cover large areas of skin. For many people, psoriasis is nothing more than a nuisance. For others, it’s an embarrassment. And for a few, it’s a painful and disabling condition.
No one knows what causes psoriasis, but genetics may play a major role in its development, as psoriasis often runs in families. About one in three people with psoriasis has a close relative with this condition.
People with certain medical conditions, such as HIV, are more likely to develop psoriasis. Other risk factors are:
Flares of psoriasis are often linked to triggers – factors in the environment that set off the faulty immune response that causes psoriasis. Everyone’s triggers are different, but common triggers include:
Severity of psoriasis varies with each person and can range from a few patches here and there to full body involvement. Assessment is usually discussed in terms of “mild,” “moderate” and “severe.” In psoriasis patients, about 65% of people have mild psoriasis, about 25% have moderate psoriasis, and about 10% have severe psoriasis.
Mild psoriasis
Moderate psoriasis
Severe psoriasis
To assess the area of involvement, consider that your palm covers about 1% of the skin’s surface; the number of palms of your skin involved with psoriasis is a reflection of the body surface involved.
*National Psoriasis Foundation
The emotional impact of psoriasis on a person’s life does not depend on the severity of the lesions. It is determined by how each person feels about the itchiness, pain and discomfort of psoriasis and the visibility of the lesions.
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