Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects about one in fifty adults while at the same time causing significant psychological distress to those people that are afflicted with the condition. One of the most intriguing breakthroughs related to what causes psoriasis skin disorder is that its onset is rooted within the body’s immune system.
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 affected areas develop round, eliptical or irregular formed areas of red that are covered with skin that is scaly and silvery colored. There is no consistence in the size or shape of the patchy areas and occasionally, individual smaller patches can merge together and look like a single large irregular shape of irritated skin. As well as being unsightly, the skin in these areas sometimes cracks and starts bleeding.
Affected skin can be extremely sensitive and frequently has a burning sensation. There are no hard and fast rules as to how long any specific flare-up will last. It could go away within a week but then again, you may be suffering for weeks on end. Since psoriasis is classified as a chronic complaint, the chances of recurring flare-ups in the same or different area of the body are very high.
Areas of the body that are typically affected include the trunk, head, elbows and knees although any body part can develop symptoms of psoriasis. One unusual anomaly is that flare-ups tend to be balanced in as much that both sides of the body will be afflicted in identical areas at the same time.
Hereditary factors play some role in psoriasis meaning that those individuals with parents or grandparents who have had psoriasis have a greater risk that they will develop it as well. 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 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 produce the telling raised patches on the skins surface. To nourish these additional skin cells, an increased blood supply is needed which results in the red look.
Traumas to the skin, sun and strep infections are frequent triggers of Psoriasis. Alterations in the bodies hormone levels as well as stress and anxiety can also trigger outbreaks. People with early stages of HIV appear to have higher instances of psoriasis as well. Smokers and alcohol drinkers are considered to be at greater risk of developing psoriasis although it is not contagious and cannot be passed on.
Presently, there is still no known cure for psoriasis. Nevertheless there are many effective treatment options that can ease the symptoms. Resisting the temptation to scratch the affected area and keeping it damp is a great start.
The first line of treatments are localized and are applied directly to the affected surface area with the ultimate goal of trying to stem the production of surplus skin cells. Coal tar, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin D, tazorac and anthrallin are common topical treatment choices as are specially developed bathing products and moisturizers. For more serious cases where localized treatments maybe ineffectual, systemic medications may be prescribed by the doctor. Phototherapy, where patients are exposed to medically-supervised ultraviolet radiation is also effective in the treatment of psoriasis.
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