Psoriasis a Skin Condition
Uploaded by mumsa1 on Jan 31, 2012
Psoriasis is a skin condition which affects about 2 in 100 people at some time in their life.
In this article:
What is psoriasis?
Diagnosis
Advice & Support
Symptoms
Treatment
Causes
How Chemist Online can help
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic but non-contagious skin condition which can affect all areas of the body, but usually develops on the scalp, lower back, elbows and knees.
With psoriasis, the skin becomes red and patchy because the skin cells struggle to reproduce quickly enough (human skin layers reproduce up to every 28 days). These ‘flare-ups’ of psoriasis can occur randomly and are therefore unpredictable. However, there are triggers (please see Causes section below) which can bring about a sudden bout of symptoms.
Severity of symptoms can vary from person to person.
Symptoms
Symptoms of psoriasis include:
small patches of red, scaly skin on the body
itching
burning
bleeding
Note: These symptoms can also affect your fingers and toes.
Causes
Although one school of thought suggests that the cause of psoriasis may be linked to a problem with the immune system (or to a certain form of arthritis), the exact cause of psoriasis is something that has baffled GPs, dermatologists and other medical professionals for some time. This means that the condition is unpreventable. What is known is that there are a range of triggers which can prompt the onset of symptoms. For example:
chest infection
sore throat
stress
sunburn
smoking
excessive alcohol consumption
insect bites
certain prescribed and non-prescribed medications
an injury to the skin (such as a cut, graze or other wound)
Note: Some people may also have a genetic predisposition to developing psoriasis (i.e. it is in the family, or passed down)
Diagnosis
If you suffer from the aforementioned symptoms, arrange an appointment with your GP. After taking your medical history and asking you some questions, he or she will examine the affected area and recommend an appropriate treatment. If your psoriasis is particularly severe, you may be referred to a dermatologist who will carry out further tests.
Treatment
There is no cure for psoriasis, but there are several treatments which can reduce symptoms. For example:
Over-the-counter remedies (e.g., lotions or creams)
Prescribed topical lotions and creams, such as: Dithranol, Tazarotene, corticosteroids, and vitamin D analogues
Injected or oral medication that has been developed specifically to trigger reduction in the production of skin cells
Sometimes, light therapy or phototherapy is also used to treat the affected area(s) – on a regular basis and under medical supervision, the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light.
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