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What is psoriasis?
- It is an inflammatory disease of the skin which will affect different parts of the body, most ordinarily the elbows, knees, and scalp;
- It is characterized by the looks of thick patches of skin which break off within the sort of white scales leaving areas of red skin
- It is a chronic disease that progresses by a flare, with periods of remission (improvement of symptoms);
- It is not contagious and may be controlled with treatment;
Psoriasis is often embarrassing and interferes with social life (because unsightly). Indeed, it is often very unpleasant or maybe painful when it appears on the palms of the hands, the only of the foot, or within the folds of the skin.
What are the various sorts of psoriasis and their symptoms?
Plaque (or common) psoriasis:
- Well-defined red patches, round or oval, covered with thick crusts of white skin which desquamate (come off easily);
- Usually located on the elbows, knees, scalp, and buttocks.
These plaques can cause discomfort, pain and sometimes intense itching.
Psoriasis of the nails:
Various abnormalities of the nails of the hands and feet: small “depressions” that look like:
- Thimble holes;
- Detachments;
- Crumbling;
- Discolorations;
- Thickenings;
- Streaks.
Scalp Psoriasis:
Red patches with silvery scales on the scalp and therefore the tip of the forehead.
Palmoplantar psoriasis:
Dry patches on the palms of the hands and therefore the soles of the feet, often painful and cracked
Reverse psoriasis:
Red plaques that appear within the folds (in the armpits, groin, near the genitals, within the folds of the buttocks), without scales, and sometimes painful since exposed to friction.
Pustular psoriasis:
Patches covered with Pieris rapae pustules, especially on the hands and therefore the sole of the foot. This shape also can touch the fingertips.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis:
Almost all of the skin is red, inflamed, and without specific plaques. there’s often fever and chills. it’s a significant form, which needs urgent treatment.
Guttate psoriasis:
A rare form that mainly affects children and adolescents. It occurs after a strep infection (sore throat or pharyngitis, most often). The plaques are small (less than 1 cm), teardrop-shaped, and are often present on the trunk, arms, and legs.
What are the causes ?
The precise explanation for psoriasis isn’t known. However, several factors are believed to be involved within the onset of the disease, in particular:
- Environmental factors like stress, taking medication, rubbing clothes, sensitivity to certain fabrics, changing seasons…;
- Tobacco and alcohol;
- Overweight ;
- Genetic factors;
- Autoimmune reactions of the skin …
How does the disease progress?
The disease progresses in quite unpredictable and really variable outbreaks counting on the individual. Symptoms usually last 3 to 4 months, then they will get away for several months or maybe years (this is that the period of remission) then reappear in most cases.
There are several belongings you can do to stop psoriasis:
- Do not smoke or consume alcohol: cigarettes and alcohol are major risk factors;
- Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreens ;
- Avoid overweight (risk factor favoring);
- Manage stress or maybe start psychotherapy when necessary.
What is the treatement ?
Psoriasis may be a chronic disease that progresses in flare-ups interspersed with periods of remission and disappearance of symptoms. Nevertheless, during the acute phase, it’s possible to alleviate these symptoms effectively with the assistance of medicinal products applied to the lesions.
It is therefore advisable to consult a doctor so as to form the diagnosis and prescribe the acceptable treatment.