Women’s health

Psoriasis. About 2.6 percent of people in the U.S (over seven million) are affected by a chronic disease called psoriasis. Such serious disease as psoriasis can cause the skin to become inflamed with red, thickened areas that become covered with flaky, silvery scales. People don’t know the ultimate cause of psoriasis. The condition is not contagious and psoriasis is thought to be an immunologic genetic disorder.
Half of all patients who suffer from psoriasis have fingernail involvement, appearing as nail thickening or subungual hyperkeratosis.

What are the psoriasis symptoms?

Psoriasis symptoms can occur in different ways. Symptoms may go into remission even without treatment, but after some time return again. Psoriasis can be mild, with small areas of rash. During moderate form of psoriasis  the skin gets inflamed with raised red areas topped with loose, silvery, scaling skin. The skin becomes itchy and tender if psoriasis is severe. The latter form is more serious because large skin patches can join together and cover large skin areas, such as the entire back.
Typical areas of psoriasis appearance are elbows, knees and scalp, however it can also occur on your lower back, buttocks, palms, soles and genital region. Psoriasis can arise in trauma areas such as severe sunburns or surgical scars. Psoriasis may be associated with a specific type of arthritis, known as psoriatic arthritis. Lesions can be triggered by stress, infection, climate changes and medications. No cure is known for this condition, however treatments can reduce skin inflammation.
In the experts opinion, when the immune system overreacts, psoriasis occurs causing inflammation and flaking of skin.
In some cases, psoriasis runs in families. Many families, affected by psoriasis, have been studied by the researchers to find out in what way psoriasis is passed from parents to their children and what might trigger the condition.

How psoriasis is treated?

Each person may prevent spreading psoriasis, as most cases are mild, and treatment begins with proper skin care. Always keep your skin moist with creams and lotions. These are often used with other treatments including shampoos, ultraviolet light, and medicines prescribed by your doctor.
But in some cases it is not so easy to treat psoriasis. It may be necessary to try different combinations of treatments to find what is best for you. You must be ready for waiting, because treatment for psoriasis may continue for a lifetime.
Treatment for mild psoriasis, characterized by a few isolated raised patches, begins with skin care, which means keeping your skin moist and lubricated. Simple treatment often includes therapies combinations and products, which you can easily buy anywhere, without a prescription. Such treatment includes:
- creams, ointments, and lotions, to lubricate the skin.
- shampoos, oils, and sprays, to treat psoriasis of the scalp.
- ointments, to treat psoriasis of the nails.
- some exposure to sunlight.
Effective treatment will address the impact the condition has on overall well-being as well as the physical symptoms.
For moderate psoriasis that affects less than 20% of the skin surface, you may combine creams with sunlight or ultraviolet light (phototherapy). However, creams, ointments, lotions, and topical medications turn out to be better for some people than for others. If one topical treatment doesn’t help you, you should visit your doctor for another combination of treatments.
For some people the method of occlusion treatment may be very effective. Occlusion involves first applying skin products, such as moisturizers, medicated creams, or gels, then wrapping the skin with tape, material, or plastic. Such treatment helps the area to remain moist and increases the effectiveness of medicated creams.
Another one effective method of treatment is consumption of vitamin D also known as calcipitriol. The evidence implicating psoriasis as a T cell-mediated disorder has created a new perspective relating to the psoriasis treatment.

How to prevent psoriasis?

Infortunately, there is no way to prevent psoriasis. However, following some tips, you may help to reduce the number of psoriasis flare-ups. Try to avoid cold, dry climates, because cold weather may worsen symptoms, while hot, humid weather and sunlight may improve them.
Try to avoid strep throat infections, which can cause sudden psoriasis appearance, especially in children.
Keep your skin moist and lubricated. Don’t smoke – smoking may make you more likely to get psoriasis and may make it more severe. Smoking may also make your symptoms last longer.
Try to avoid certain medications. Some, including beta-blockers and lithium, have been found to worsen psoriasis symptoms. Tell your doctor you have psoriasis when any medications are prescribed for you.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at 3:22 pm and is filed under Skin health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.