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. It is characterized by intermittent flares followed by periods of calm. Flares can appear suddenly in the form of painful pustules and may be accompanied by fever. Explore the infographic below to get the facts.
It’s not known exactly what causes GPP. Some people are genetically prone to getting it, but it can also be triggered by things like stress, certain medications, or pregnancy.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GPP?
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
TIREDNESS
BURNING SENSATION ON THE SKIN
HEADACHE
GPP flares also include the eruption of painful pustules that can appear suddenly and cover large areas of your skin.
How difficult has it been for you (or your loved one) to fully participate in social activities because of GPP?
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YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN DEALING WITH GPP
View stories of people with GPP to hear how others are living with the disease.
What makes GPP different
GPP IS DIFFERENT FROM PLAQUE PSORIASIS
GPP can be confused with plaque psoriasis, but they are 2 distinctly different diseases. Review the animation below to see how.
Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disease that affects 2% to 3% of the world’s population. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, affecting nearly 8 out of 10 people with the condition. GPP, however, is a rare disease.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 1 PERSON OUT OF 10,000 HAS GPP IN THE UNITED STATES
STUDIES SHOW GPP TYPICALLY STARTS IN YOUR 40s, BUT CAN ALSO OCCUR AT A YOUNGER AGE
MOST STUDIES SHOW MORE WOMEN THAN MEN ARE AFFECTED BY GPP
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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.
Many doctors are not familiar with GPP. If they recognize it, they may not know how to treat it.
To make a correct diagnosis, your dermatologist may conduct a blood test or perform a biopsy (examine a small piece of your skin under a microscope).
Remember, if you have pustules on large portions of skin and experience fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, or severe pain, you may have GPP.
PRESCRIPTION TREATMENTS ARE USED TO EASE YOUR GPP SYMPTOMS
The hope is that treatment may make symptoms less severe, so you can avoid complications that may require hospitalization.
Your dermatologist may suggest:
SKIN CREAMS
LIGHT THERAPY
PILLS
INJECTABLE/IV DRUGS
Treatment may take a while to start working, and sometimes one treatment isn’t enough. It can take some time for you and your doctor to find an effective treatment plan that works for you.
FIND A SPECIALIST
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
The first step in diagnosing and treating GPP, is to consult with a specialist—such as a dermatologist—who has experience with GPP and knows how to treat it.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is providing this tool to help patients find specialists in their area. This list is updated on a quarterly basis.
You are ultimately responsible for the selection of a physician and it is an important decision that you should consider carefully. This specialist locator tool is just one source of information available to you.
