Psoriasis

Not all skin disorders are contagious. And not all skin disorders target only the skin. Psoriasis, a chronic and common skin condition is characterized by red scaly patches on the skin. Ten percent to thirty percent of patients diagnosed with this condition get a “special” type of arthritis referred to as psoriatic arthritis, known to cause swelling of the joints.

The most widespread type of this skin disorder is called plaque psoriasis. Majority of patients with psoriasis, roughly about 80%, are affected by this particular type. Symptoms include reddish, raised skin covered in white scales. These patches of skin, or plaques, usually appear on the knees, scalp, lower back, and elbows, although they can develop on the other areas of the body.

Other types of psoriasis are: pustular psoriasis, red skin around white pustules; guttate psoriasis, tiny red blotches on skin; erythrodermic psoriasis, extensive redness with severe itch and pain; and inverse psoriasis, red lesions along the folds of the skin.

Whatever type of psoriasis a patient has, it is bound to cause him discomfort, making daily tasks very difficult to carry out. The affected area of the skin usually itches, and may even crack open and bleed.

Since psoriasis is a chronic medical condition, patients have it for life. Currently, there is still no known cure that will completely get rid of the condition once the patient has it. Thus, people suffering from psoriasis normally experience remissions throughout their lives. However, controlling and managing the various symptoms can be done through lifelong therapy.

While psoriasis is among the oldest identified skin disorders, not much was known about it until recently. Although it is impossible to point one exact cause of the disease, research has greatly improved our understanding of psoriasis. One crucial finding was the role of cyclosporine medication in the onset of the disease. Genetics and family history are also thought to be responsible for the development of psoriasis.

There are currently millions of patients inflicted with the condition, and more than 100,000 cases are reported every year. Females and males have equal chances of getting the disease. But studies show that the condition is more common in certain ethnicities. Certain genetic elements have also been found out to cause psoriasis. In fact, one third of the reported cases affect people who have at least a single member of the family suffering from the condition.

Research further found out that patients, from 15-35 years old, typically experience the various symptoms of psoriasis. Around 75% of patients develop the condition before they’re 40 years old. However, this does not erase the fact that the disease can occur in people outside this age bracket. As a matter of fact, the age from 50-60 years old is considered a peak period for the onset of psoriasis.
Diagnosis is usually done via visual examinations. However, in certain cases, doctor may recommend the patient to undergo biopsy to identify the specific type of psoriasis, as well as to determine if there are other disorders present. The different types are as follows: seborrheic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, pityriasis rosea, and lichen planus.

The various psoriasis treatment options serve to distract the cycle which leads to the over-production of skin cells. Certain other treatments, particularly topical medication, are used for scale removal and skin moisturizer. While doctors tailor treatments according to the type and degree of the patients’ psoriasis, the conventional method is to initially prescribe the mildest medications, eventually progressing to the more powerful alternatives as the need arises.

Psoriasis may affect patients for life. However, it does not mean that dealing with the disease means suffering from it. Be the boss, and don’t let the disease win over you.