WHAT IS GPP (Generalized Pustular Psoriasis)?
GPP (generalized pustular psoriasis) is a rare, lifelong disease. GPP can affect the body in many different ways and not everyone will experience exactly the same symptoms. There might be painful, pus-filled blisters (called pustules), along with red, dry, cracked or scaly skin, and severe itching.
GPP can also cause more general symptoms, such as fever, headache, or extreme tiredness.
WHAT CAUSES GPP?
It’s not known exactly what causes GPP, but it’s important to know that GPP is not contagious. You might be naturally prone to getting it, but it can also be triggered by something in your life, such as stress, a medicine, or another disease.
GPP affects more women than men. It often starts in people in their 40s, but it can occasionally occur at a younger age.
The symptoms of GPP can be very challenging, no matter what stage of life you are at. If you’re experiencing symptoms that seem like those in GPP, it’s important to try and get a diagnosis as soon as possible. This will help you to get the right care for you.
Diagnosing GPP
Getting a diagnosis of GPP is not always straightforward. Because GPP is rare, some doctors may not be very familiar with it. You may be referred to a dermatologist (skin specialist) to diagnose GPP. If your dermatologist suspects that you have GPP, you might even find that they refer you to another dermatologist who has more experience treating it. At your first appointment, your dermatologist may ask about your symptoms, your medical history, and any family history of skin disease. They may need to do blood tests or even take a small piece of skin to examine under a microscope (a biopsy).
It can be confused with and can occur alongside plaque psoriasis. So it’s important that you talk openly about all your symptoms. This will help your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. They can then work out how best to help you manage your GPP symptoms long-term.
HOW IS GPP DIFFERENT FROM PLAQUE PSORIASIS?
Although GPP can be confused with plaque psoriasis, they are 2 different diseases.
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It accounts for nearly 8 out of 10 psoriasis cases. GPP, on the other hand, is a rare disease.
Even though GPP is very different from plaque psoriasis, nearly 2 out of 3 people with GPP also have plaque psoriasis and there are some similarities in symptoms between the two conditions.
Both GPP and plaque psoriasis can show up as large areas of red itchy skin. But GPP also causes painful pus-filled blisters (called pustules) and sometimes more general symptoms. The symptoms of GPP can be severe and can have a strong impact on your quality of life.
It’s important to get the correct diagnosis because GPP and plaque psoriasis are different diseases caused by different processes in the body. So, treatments that work for plaque psoriasis may not work for GPP.
