UNDERSTANDING GENERALIZED PUSTULAR PSORIASIS (GPP)
ABOUT GPP
WHAT IS GPP?
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with GPP, it’s important to know what GPP is.
GPP is a rare, lifelong disease. Flares appear suddenly in the form of painful, pus-filled blisters (pustules) and may be accompanied by fever. Explore the infographic below to get the facts.
GPP: THE FACTS
It’s not known exactly what causes GPP. For some people, genes may play a role, but it can also be triggered by things like stress, certain medications, or pregnancy.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GPP?
GPP flares include the eruption of painful, pus-filled blisters called pustules that can appear suddenly and cover large areas of your skin. You may experience symptoms such as fever/chills, joint pain, and muscle weakness. You may also experience:
SEVERE ITCH
REDNESS
DRY, CRACKED, OR SCALY SKIN
HEADACHE
TIREDNESS
FEVER
BURNING SENSATION ON THE SKIN
WHAT MAKES GPP DIFFERENT
GPP IS DIFFERENT FROM PLAQUE PSORIASIS
GPP can be confused with plaque psoriasis. Although they are related, they are 2 distinctly different diseases, and some people can experience both.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN 1 PERSON OUT OF 10,000 HAS GPP IN THE UNITED STATES, AND 2 AND 7 PEOPLE OUT OF 1 MILLION HAVE IT IN FRANCE AND JAPAN, RESPECTIVELY
GPP MAY START IN YOUR 40S, BUT CAN ALSO OCCUR AT A YOUNGER AGE
MOST STUDIES SHOW MORE WOMEN THAN MEN ARE AFFECTED BY GPP
BECAUSE GPP IS SO RARE, IT’S NOT EASY TO RECOGNIZE—EVEN FOR
DOCTORS. BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT GPP AND
PLAQUE PSORIASIS ARE 2 DIFFERENT DISEASES
COPING WITH YOUR GPP
AS A RARE DISEASE, DIAGNOSING GPP MAY TAKE SOME TIME
A dermatologist is the right doctor to diagnose GPP, but it may take a few visits.
Because GPP is so rare, many doctors are not familiar with it.
To make a correct diagnosis, your dermatologist may conduct a blood test.
Remember, if you have pus-filled blisters on large portions of skin and experience fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, or severe pain, you may have GPP.
