Living with GPP - Make the most out of your doctor's appointments
Living with GPP
Living with GPP - There is more than you see
When living with GPP, recognising what triggers your flares
is a big part of managing your disease.
Flares
Recognising flares early is a big part of managing your disease.2,22
Flares are defined as episodes of widespread pustules that can occur without warning in people who may or may not have plaque psoriasis.2,4,14,22 Flares may start with fiery red, tender skin, followed by painful pustules and dry scaling.8
Pay attention to how your body feels before a flare. You may feel unwell and generally uneasy, and you may also experience a decreased appetite, nausea, fever, or joint pain.2,23
GPP flares can come on very suddenly.4 They can happen anytime and can be unpredictable- it’s hard to know when you are about to have one, how long it will last or how severe it will be.4,22
Leaving a flare untreated can be life threatening and so it’s important to speak to your doctor as soon you feel a flare coming on whether its mild or not.2,3
Triggers and common symptoms during flares
Disease management
Although living with GPP is not easy, it’s important to remember that there are ways to help manage your disease. Finding effective management techniques can help you to cope and live with your disease.
Download the different practical tips you can use to help living with GPP and for managing flares.
Practical tips for living with GPP
Practical tips for managing flares
Treatment
GPP is a specific type of psoriasis, which is very different to plaque psoriasis. It is a condition which requires systemic treatment (that works throughout the whole body) as opposed to topical treatments. This is why it’s important to discuss the available treatment options that can help with the management of your condition with your doctor.
When it comes to GPP treatment, the goal is to ease your symptoms.15 The hope is that the treatment may make symptoms less severe, so you can avoid complications.15
Your dermatologist may suggest the following to alleviate your symptoms:15,23
Systemic therapy
(injectables and oral therapy)
Topical therapy
(Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy,
skin creams)
Some treatments may take a while to start working.5 It is important to talk and work with your doctor to find a specific treatment plan that best suits your needs. Be sure to follow treatment guidance and not interrupt any treatment courses without consulting your doctor first. And rest assured that there is ongoing research into treatments.8,24 Speak to your doctor to find out more information about this.
Access the latest information on clinical studies in GPP
- Choon SE, et al. Clinical profile, morbidity, and outcome of adult-onset generalized pustular psoriasis: analysis of 102 cases seen in a tertiary hospital in Johor, Malaysia. Int J Dermatol. 2014;53(6):676-684. doi:10.1111/ijd.12070
- Strober B, et al. Unmet medical needs in the treatment and management of generalized pustular psoriasis flares: evidence from a survey of Corrona registry dermatologists. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021;11(2):529-541. doi:10.1007/s13555-021-00493-0
- Ly K, et al. Diagnosis and screening of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2019;20;9:37-42. doi: 10.2147/PTT.S181808
- Pustular Psoriasis [Internet]. National Psoriasis Foundation. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.psoriasis.org/pustular/
- Global Commission to End the Diagnostic Odyssey for Children with a Rare Disease [Internet]. Global Commission. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.globalrarediseasecommission.com/report
- Strober B, Leman J, Mockenhaupt M, Nakano de Melo J, Nassar A, Prajapati VH, Romanelli P, Seneschal J, Tsianakas A, Wei LY, Yasuda M, Yu N, Hernandez Daly AC, Okubo Y. Unmet Educational Needs and Clinical Practice Gaps in the Management of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis: Global Perspectives from the Front Line. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022;12(2):381-393. doi: 10.1007/s13555-021-00661-2
- Bachelez H. Pustular psoriasis and related pustular skin diseases. Br J Dermatol. 2018;178(3):614-618. doi: 10.1111/bjd.16232
- Pustular psoriasis [Internet]. The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.papaa.org/
- Sampogna F, et al. IDI Multipurpose Psoriasis Research on Vital Experiences (IMPROVE) investigators. Measuring quality of life of patients with different clinical types of psoriasis using the SF-36. Br J Dermatol. 2006;154(5):844-9. doi: 10.1111/j
- Pustular Psoriasis. [Internet]. WebMD.com. 2023 [cited 31 January 2023]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/pustular-psoriasis
- Pustules [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2022 [cited 6 May 2022]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003234.htm#:~:text=Pustules%20are%20small%2C%20inflamed%2C%20pus,lesions)%20on%20the%20skin%20surface
- Gooderham MJ, et al. An update on generalized pustular psoriasis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(9):907-919. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2019.1648209
- Generalized pustular psoriasis [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/generalized-pustular-psoriasis/
- Navarini AA, et al. ERASPEN Network. European consensus statement on phenotypes of pustular psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(11):1792-1799. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14386
- Pustular psoriasis: treatment options. [Internet]. American Academy of Dermatology. 2022 [cited 10 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/treatment/genitals/pustular
- Skalicky A, et al. Symptom experience of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Value in Health. 2020;23(suppl 1):S345. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2020.04.1310
- Johnston A, et al. IL-1 and IL-36 are dominant cytokines in generalized pustular psoriasis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;140(1):109-120. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.08.056
- Robinson A, et al. Treatment of pustular psoriasis: From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2012;67(2):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.01.032
- Liang Y, et al. Psoriasis: a mixed autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease. Curr Opin Immunol. 2017;49:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.coi.2017.07.007
- Benjegerdes K, et al. Pustular psoriasis: pathophysiology and current treatment perspectives. Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy. 2016;6:131-144. doi: 10.2147/PTT.S98954
- Choon SE, et al. Clinical Course and Characteristics of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2022;23(Suppl 1):21-29. doi: 10.1007/s40257-021-00654-z
- Bachelez H. Pustular Psoriasis: The Dawn of a New Era. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(3):adv00034. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3388
- Pustular Psoriasis [Internet]. eMedicineHealth. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/pustular_psoriasis/article_em.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov. [Internet] A 5-year Study to Test BI 655130 in Patients With Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Who Took Part in Previous Studies With BI 655130 - Full Text View - Clinicaltrials.gov. 2022 [cited 5 April 2022]. Available from: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03886246?cond=Generalised+Pustular+Psoriasis&draw=2&rank=5
- Sampogna F, et al. Measuring quality of life of patients with different clinical types of psoriasis using the SF-36. British Journal of Dermatology. 2006;154(5):844-849. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.07071.x
- Pfohler C, et al. Psoriasis vulgaris and Psoriasis pustulosa; Epidemiology, Quality of Life, Comorbidities and Treatment. Current Rheumatology Reviews. 2013;9(1):2-7. doi: 10.2174/1573397111309010002
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) [Internet]. Lung.org. 2022 [cited 6 May 2022]. Available from: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/ards
- What Are Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease? [Internet]. Hopkinsmedicine.org. 2022 [cited 6 May 2022]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-are-common-symptoms-of-autoimmune-disease
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- Definition of exacerbation [Internet]. Rxlist.com. 2022 [cited 6 May 2022]. Available from: https://www.rxlist.com/exacerbation/definition.htm
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- Using medication: Topical medications [Internet]. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2022 [cited 6 May 2022]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361003/
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