Skin Disorders

Skin disorders cover a wide range of conditions, some benign, some very serious, and some even a sign of another underlying illness. A skin disorder not only affects your physical health, but also your emotional well-being.

Skin Care › Skin Disorders › Psoriasis

Psoriasis Symptoms And Treatment

Psoriasis is a common and chronic skin disorder. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis and is characterized by red skin covered with silvery scales and inflammation. Patches of circular to oval shaped red plaques that itch or burn are typical of plaque psoriasis. The patches are usually found on the arms, legs, trunk, or scalp but may be found on any part of the skin. The most typical areas are the knees and elbows.

Causes of Psoriasis

You can not get psoriasis by sharing a towel or eating from the same plate as one who gets this skin disease. stress or bad nerves do not create psoriasis but can perpetuate or aggravate the disease. The reason of psoriasis is unknown, however, it is thought to be started by abnormally shedding and fast-growing skin cells. In almost one-third of the cases, there is a family history of psoriasis. Anyone regardless of sex, race age, can get psoriasis. While you might have a genetic predisposition to getting psoriasis, there are particular factors that can cause you to suffer in regards to it. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently, as psoriasis comes in different forms and severities. Multiple genes have been linked to psoriasis, which tends to run in families.

Types of Psoriasis Plaque psoriasis Guttate psoriasis Erythrodermic psoriasis Palmoplantar psoriasis Generalized pustular psoriasis

Signs and symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis may begin with small red bumps that eventually grow into large patches of dry skin that flake off in scales. The most common symptoms of psoriasis are thick, red patches known as plaques, and dry, silvery scales. These appear most often on the scalp, face, elbows, knees, palms, and soles of the feet. About half the people who live with psoriasis also see changes in their toenails or fingernails; these may include pitting, discoloration, shape changes, or even loss of the entire nail. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Eye burning, itching, and discharge
• Increased tearing
• Nail abnormalities

Treament to cure Psoriasis

Today, there are many different treatments to help control psoriasis. Some can be found over the counter at a drugstore, while others require a prescription from your doctor. Psoriasis treatments fall into 3 categories:

• Topical medications - Options include lotions, ointments, creams, and shampoos. These may be useful for mild-to-moderate psoriasis. Topical medicines rarely produce complete clearance.
• Systemic agents - This treatment employs various oral drugs that affect the whole body system, not just the skin. These agents have significant side effects and are generally reserved for severe psoriasis.
• Ultraviolet light (phototherapy) helps and is even more effective when used with tar or anthralin. We have this treatment available in the office. There are two types of phototherapy: PUVA and UVB phototherapy.

While each of these therapies is effective, there are also drawbacks. Some topicals are messy and may stain clothing and skin. Phototherapy can require 2 to 5 weekly visits to a dermatologist's office or psoriasis clinic for several weeks. Many of the systemic medications have serious side effects and must be combined or rotated with other therapies to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects. Research is being conducted to find therapies that provide safe, effective, easy-to-use treatment options that provide long-term relief.

Sunlight and water are natural therapies that can help improve psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis for many people. Eighty percent of the people who use regular daily doses of sunlight enjoy improvement or clearing of their plaque psoriasis. Water can help soften psoriasis lesions.