Guttate Psoriasis (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Guttate Psoriasis Overview
- Guttate Psoriasis Causes
- Guttate Psoriasis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Guttate Psoriasis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Next Steps
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Guttate Psoriasis Causes
An outbreak of guttate psoriasis may be an immune reaction that is triggered by a previous streptococcal infection or some other type of infection. The immune system makes white blood cells that protect the body from infection. In psoriasis, the T cells (a type of white blood cell) abnormally trigger inflammation in the skin and the production of excess skin cells.
Guttate psoriasis may be inherited. Those with a family history of psoriasis have an increased chance of having the disease. Some people carry genes that make them more likely to develop psoriasis.
People with guttate psoriasis may have a significantly higher number of human leukocyte antigens BW17, B13, or CW6 than others. Psoriasis is the only disease associated with the human leukocyte antigen C gene expression.
Antigens are proteins on the surface of bacteria, viruses, or material foreign to the body. The body's immune system recognizes the type of antigen present and makes an antibody to destroy the bacteria, virus, or foreign material.
When the body has a streptococcal infection, it produces antibodies to streptolysin-O that is on the bacterial cell. People with an excess of human leukocyte antigen B13 may not be able to produce enough antibodies to the streptolysin-O, which may be associated with the high rate of guttate psoriasis in these individuals.
Factors that may trigger guttate psoriasis include the following:
- Streptococcal infection: As many as 80% of people with guttate psoriasis have a streptococcal infection, usually in the form of tonsillopharyngitis, before the outbreak. Even though the connection between these infections and the outbreaks has been known for over 50 years, the exact mechanism by which the infection triggers the lesions is unknown.
- Viral infections, such as chicken pox, rubella, and roseola, may also trigger outbreaks in children.
Next: Guttate Psoriasis Symptoms »
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
From WebMD
Psoriasis Resources
- Psoriasis Symptoms: 7 Tips for Fall
- Slideshow: 10 Psoriasis Triggers
- Slideshow: See Severe Psoriasis
Featured Centers
- Top 10 Asthma Cities
- Health Check: How to Choose The Right Vitamins
- 10 Triggers for the Holiday Blues
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Psoriasis, Guttate »
Guttate psoriasis refers to a distinctive, acute clinical presentation of an eruption characterized by small, droplike, 1-10 mm in diameter, salmon-pink papules, usually with a fine scale
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds


