29th October
World Psoriasis Day..!
Psoriasis is a
chronic, non communicable, painful, disfiguring and disabling disease for which
there is no cure and with great negative impact on patients’ quality of life
(QOL). It can occur at any age, The reported prevalence of psoriasis in
countries ranges between 0.09% and 11.4%, making psoriasis a serious global
problem.
The etiology of psoriasis remains unclear,
although there is evidence for genetic predisposition. The role of the immune
system in psoriasis causation is also a major topic of research. Although there
is a suggestion that psoriasis could be an autoimmune disease, Psoriasis can
also be provoked by external and internal triggers, including mild trauma
sunburn, infections, systemic drugs and stress .
Symptoms
Based on the type of skin lesions, location,
the age of onset and course of disease.
The most frequently reported
symptoms connected to psoriasis are:
Scaling of the skin
Iitching
Erythema
Fatigue
Swelling
Burning
Bleeding
Types of psoriasis
Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common
form of psoriasis, affecting 80 percent of people with psoriasis (NPF, 2012). It often
appears on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. It is characterized by
thick red patches of skin, often with a silver or white layer of scale. Some people inherit genes linked to
psoriasis, but most develop the condition suddenly due to a number of psoriasis
triggers.
Guttate Psoriasis
Guttate
psoriasis appears in small red spots on the skin. It is the second most common
form of psoriasis. The spots often appear on the torso and limbs, but they can
also occur on the face and scalp. They are usually not as thick as plaque
psoriasis, but they may develop into plaque psoriasis over time.
Flexural Or Inverse Psoriasis
Flexural
or inverse psoriasis often appears in skin folds (under the breasts, in the
armpits, or in the groin area). It is very red and often shiny and smooth. Most
people with inverse psoriasis also have a different form of psoriasis in other
places on the body.The sweat and moisture from skin folds keeps this form of
psoriasis from shedding skin scales, and the skin-on-skin contact can make
inverse psoriasis very irritating. A variety of topical treatments are
available and effective for inverse psoriasis.
Pustular Psoriasis
Pustular
psoriasis is
characterized by white pustules surrounded by red skin. The pus inside the
blisters is noninfectious. Scaling also occurs. There are three kinds of
pustular psoriasis: von Zumbusch, palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), and
acropustulosis. Each of the three forms of this type of psoriasis have different
symptoms and severity. Pustular psoriasis may affect isolated areas of the body, like the hands and feet, or cover most of the
skin’s surface. Some people experience cyclic periods of pustules and
remission. Pus-filled blisters require medical attention.
Nail Psoriasis
Although not an official category of
psoriasis, nail psoriasis is a manifestation of psoriasis that affects up to
half of all individuals with psoriasis elsewhere on the body. The condition can
often be confused with fungal infections and other infections of the nail.Nail
psoriasis can cause nail pitting, grooves, discoloration, loosening or
crumbling of the nail, thickened skin under the nail, and colored patches or
spots under the nail. There is no cure for psoriatic nails, but some treatments
may improve the health and appearance of nails.
Scalp Psoriasis
Several
types of psoriasis may appear on the scalp. Some may cause severe dandruff,
while others can be painful, itchy, and very noticeable at the hairline. It can
extend to the neck, face, and ears, and it may be in one large patch or many
smaller patches.In some cases, scalp psoriasis can make even regular hair
hygiene difficult. Excessive scratching can cause hair loss and scalp
infections, and the condition can be a source of social stress.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a painful and
physically limiting condition affecting up to 30 percent of those with
psoriasis. It can affect many joints and often becomes quite severe in the
hands. While there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, some people achieve
remission with arthritis treatments and exercises. In addition to the skin, psoriasis can be
associated with an inflammatory arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis, which
involves the joints of the spine and other joints. This occurs without presence
of specific antibodies in the blood (seronegative spondyloarthropathy). The
rheumatoid factor (antibody occurring in rheumatoid arthritis) is also
negative.A review of the literature showed that psoriatic arthritis affects
between 1.3% and 34.7% of patients diagnosed with psoriasis.
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