Causes and Symptoms of Psoriasis Skin Disease
Written by man on July 3rd, 2009 in Uncategorized.
Affecting around one out of every 50 adults, psoriasis of the skin is a physical condition that can cause significant mental distress. Clinical research has concluded that although psoriaisis manifests itself as a skin complaint, the actual cause is rooted in the immune system of the body.
Salmon colored skin that becomes scaly, flaky and irritated is among the common symptoms of psoriasis. In the case of plaque psoriasis, which is also the most predominant type, the afflicted areas develop circular, eliptical or irregular shaped areas of red that are covered with skin that is cracked and silvery colored. There is no consistence in the size or form of the patchy areas and sometimes, individual smaller patches can combine together and look like one big irregular shape of irritated skin. As well as not being very nice to look at, the skin in these areas occasionally cracks and starts bleeding.
The area of affected skin can become very sore and feel as though it is burning. As with the shape, there is no consistency as to the length of time a particular flare-up will last. It could last a week to twleve days or you may have to suffer it for a number of weeks. One of the worst aspects for those affected is that it is a long-term condition and recurrent flare-ups can happen at any time.
Areas of the body that are typically affected include the torso, scalp, elbows and knees although any part of the body can develop symptoms of psoriasis. One unexplained anomaly is that flare-ups tend to be symmetrical in as much that both sides of the body will be affected in the same areas at the same time.
Hereditary factors play some part in psoriasis which means that those folks with parents or grandparents who have had psoriasis have an increased chance that they will develop it also. For reasons that are not yet fully understood, T-cells, which are required by our bodies to produce infection fighting white blood cells, cause inflammation of the skin. These same cells also set off some bodily process which results in the over production of skin cells. Because these skin cells are surplus to requirements, they simply pile up on top of each other and in turn create the telling raised patches on the surface of the skin. To nourish these additional skin cells, an increased blood supply is needed which results in the red look.
Although not the causes of psoriasis, common triggers include sunlight, streptococcal infections and traumas, both past and present, to the skin. Anxiety and stress can also trigger an outbreak as can changes in hormone levels. Higher incidences of psoriasis have also been noted in those folks with the early stages of HIV infection. Folks who smoke cigarettes who also drink alcohol increase their risks of developing psoriasis.
Currently, there is still no known cure for psoriasis. However there are many effective treatment choices that can ease the symptoms. Resisting the temptation to scratch the affected area and keeping it moist is a good start.
The initial course of treatments are topical and are applied directly to the affected surface area with the ultimate goal of trying to stem the production of excess skin cells. Coal tar, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin D, tazorac and anthrallin are common topical treatment options as are specially formulated bathing products and moisturizers. For more serious cases where localized treatments maybe ineffective, systemic medications may be prescribed by the physician. Phototherapy, where sufferers are exposed to medically-supervised ultraviolet radiation is also effective in treating psoriasis.






















