Loading ...Affecting close to one out of every fifty adults, psoriasis skin disorder is a physical condition that can cause considerable mental suffering. Clinical studies have come to the conclusion that even though psoriaisis manifests itself as a skin complaint, the actual cause is rooted in the immune system of the body.
Salmon colored skin that becomes cracked, flaky and irritated is among the common symptoms of psoriasis. With plaque psoriasis, which is also the most common form, the afflicted areas develop round, eliptical or odd formed patches of red which are covered with skin that is cracked and silvery colored. There is no consistence in the size or shape of the patchy areas and occasionally, individual small patches can fuse together and appear as a single large irregular shape of irritated skin. As well as being unsightly, the skin in these areas occasionally cracks and starts bleeding.
Affected skin can be very itchy and often has a burning sensation. There are no hard and fast rules as to how long any certain flare-up will last. It could disappear within a week but then again, you may be suffering for weeks on end. Since psoriasis is classed as a chronic complaint, the risks of repeated flare-ups in the same or different area of the body are very high.
Although any part of the body can be affected by psoriasis, the most frequent areas are the hands, head, trunk, elbows and knees. Flare-ups tend to be symmetric, meaning that both sides of the body will experience flare-ups in the same areas at the same time.
Hereditary factors play some part in psoriasis which means that those individuals with parents or grandparents who have had psoriasis have an increased chance that they will develop it as well. For reasons that are not yet fully understood, T-cells, which are needed by our bodies to produce infection fighting white blood cells, cause inflammation of the skin. These same cells also trigger some bodily process which results in the over production of skin cells. Since these skin cells are surplus to requirements, they just stack up on top of each other and in turn create the telling raised areas on the skins surface. To nourish these extra skin cells, an increased blood supply is needed which results in the red look.
Injuries to the skin, sun and streptococcal infections are frequent triggers of Psoriasis. Alterations in the bodies hormone levels as well as stress and anxiety can also trigger outbreaks. Folks with early stages of HIV seem to have higher instances of psoriasis as well. Smokers and alcohol drinkers are thought to be at greater risk of developing psoriasis although it is not infectious and cannot be passed on.
Presently, there is still no recognized remedy for psoriasis. However there are many effective treatment choices that can alleviate the symptoms. Resisting the temptation to scratch the affected area and keeping it moist is a good start.
Topical treatments are used initially with the goal of slowing the excess production of skin cells. Commonly employed localized treatments include anthrallin, coal tar, corticosteroids, salicylic acid and synthetic vitamin D. There are also a selection of specially formulated skin moisturizers and bathing products. Systemic medications are prescribed to treat more severe cases. An additional effective means of psoriasis treatment is with the use of phototherapy, where, under strict medical supervision, the patient is exposed to UV radiation.