Causes and risk factors of psoriasis

Causes and risk factors of psoriasis

Causes and risk factors of psoriasis

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic condition of non-polluting skin that produces thickened and scaly patches of the skin. Dry scaly skin scales are the result of excessively rapid proliferation of skin cells. The proliferation of skin cells is caused by inflammatory chemicals produced by specialized white blood cells called lymphocytes. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees and scalp.

The spectrum of disease ranges from mild and limited involvement of small areas of the skin to large, thick, inflamed red skin plaques that affect the entire surface of the body.

Psoriasis is considered an incurable inflammatory state of the skin in the long term (chronic). It has a variable course, is improving and worsening periodically. It is not unusual to spontaneously eclare psoriasis for years and remains in remission. Many people notice a worsening of their symptoms during the colder months of winter.

Psoriasis affects all races and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, patients were often diagnosed for the first time in adults. The quality of life of patients with psoriasis is often diminished due to the appearance of their skin. Recently it became apparent that people with psoriasis are more likely to have diabetes, elevated blood lipids, cardiovascular disease and a variety of other inflammatory diseases. 

This may reflect the inability to control inflammation. Psoriasis care has a medical team work.

What causes psoriasis and risk factors?

The exact cause remains unknown. A combination of factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors were discussed. Psoriasis is often found in members of the same family. Defects in immune regulation (white blood cells called T cells mistakenly target healthy cells instead of attacking foreign substances) and are believed to control inflammation to play an important role. Despite research carried out over the past 30 years, the "master switch" that ignites psoriasis remains a mystery.

What are the different types of psoriasis?

There are several different forms of psoriasis, including plaque psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris (common type plaque), psoriasis (small patches similar to drips), reverse psoriasis (in folds such as armpits, navel, groin and buttocks) , And pustular psoriasis (small yellow blisters filled with pus). 

When the palms and plants

In question is what is called palmoplantar psoriasis. In erythrodermic psoriasis, the entire surface of the skin is involved in the disease. Patients with this form of psoriasis are often cold and may develop congestive heart failure if they have a preexisting heart problem. Nail psoriasis produces yellow-headed nails that can be mistaken for a nail fungus. Psoriasis of the scalp may be severe enough to produce localized hair loss, dandruff and many severe itching

Can psoriasis affect joints?

Yes, psoriasis is associated with inflammation of the joints in about a third of those affected. In fact, sometimes joint pain may be the only sign of the disease, with a completely clean skin. Joint disease associated with psoriasis is called psoriatic arthritis. Patients may have any inflammation of the joints (arthritis), although the joints of the hands, knees and ankles tend to be most frequently affected. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory and destructive form of arthritis is treated with drugs in order to stop the progression of the disease.

The average age for the onset of psoriatic arthritis is 30 to 40 years. Symptoms and signs of the skin usually precede the onset of arthritis.

Psoriasis can not affect nails?

Yes, psoriasis can only involve nails in a limited number of patients. Usually, the nail

The signs accompany symptoms and signs of skin and arthritis. Nail psoriasis is generally very difficult to treat. Treatment options are somewhat limited and include potent topical steroid applied to the nail cuticle, injection of steroids into oral or systemic cuticle and nail drugs, as described below for the treatment of psoriasis.

What are the symptoms and signs of psoriasis? What does psoriasis do?

The signs and symptoms of plaque psoriasis appear as tiny bright red or pink bumps that melt into raised skin plaques. Plaque psoriasis in a conventional way affects the skin of the elbows, knees and scalp and is often itchy. While any area may be involved, plaque psoriasis tends to be more common at sites of friction, scratches or abrasions. Sometimes snatching one of those small white flakes dry skin causes a small spot of blood on the skin. This is a special diagnostic signal in psoriasis called an Auspitz sign.

Nails and toenails often have small holes (point of depression) and / or larger yellowish-brown separations of the nail from the nail bed of the fingertip called distal onycholysis. Nail psoriasis can be confusing and misdiagnosed as a fungal infection of the nails.

Symptoms and signs of psoriasis include guttate lumps or small plaques (½ inch or less) of red itch, scaling of the skin that may appear explosive, affecting large parts of the skin surface at the same time, after A sore throat

In reverse psoriasis, genital lesions, particularly in the groin and head of the penis, are common. Psoriasis in moist areas such as the navel or the area between the buttocks (intergluteaux folds) may resemble flat red plaques without much scaling. This can be confused with other skin conditions such as fungal infections, fungal infections, allergic skin rashes or bacterial infections.

Symptoms and signs of pustular psoriasis include the rapid onset of clusters of small blisters filled with pus in the torso. Patients are often systemic and may have a fever.

Erythrodermic psoriasis appears as large areas of red skin, often with the entire surface of the skin. Patients can often feel cold.

Psoriasis of the scalp may resemble severe dandruff with dry scales and red areas of the skin. It may be difficult to differentiate psoriasis from scalp and seborrheic dermatitis when only the scalp is involved. However, the treatment is often very similar for both conditions.

How to diagnose psoriasis medical professionals?

Psoriasis The diagnosis is usually made by obtaining information from the physical examination of the skin, the clinical history and the relevant family history of health.

Sometimes, laboratory tests, including microscopic examination of tissue obtained from a skin biopsy may be necessary.

Eczema against psoriasis

Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate dermatitis eczema psoriasis. This is when a biopsy can be useful to distinguish the two conditions. Keep in mind that eczematous dermatitis and psoriasis often respond to similar treatments. Some types of eczema dermatitis can be cured when this is not the case for psoriasis.

How many people have psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a very common skin disease and is estimated to affect about 1% to 3% of the population of the United States. It currently affects approximately 7.5 million to 8.5 million people in the United States. It is produced worldwide by about 125 million people. Interestingly, African Americans have about half the rate of psoriasis than Caucasians.

Is psoriasis contagious?

No. A person can not contract from another person, and we can not pass it on to another person through skin to skin. Pressing directly on someone with psoriasis every day will never pass the disease.

Is there a remedy against psoriasis?

No, psoriasis is not currently curable. However, it can go into remission, producing a completely normal skin surface. Ongoing research is progressing actively to find better treatments and a possible cure in the future.

Is psoriasis hereditary?

Although psoriasis is not contagious from one person to another, there is a well-known hereditary tendency. Therefore, family history is very useful for diagnosis.

What healthcare specialists treat psoriasis?

Dermatologists are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis, and rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of joint disorders and psoriatic arthritis. There are many types of doctors can treat psoriasis, including dermatologists, family physicians, internists, rheumatologists and other doctors. Some patients also experienced other allied health professionals such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, holistic practitioners and nutritionists.

The American Academy of Dermatology and the National Psoriasis Foundation are excellent sources for finding doctors who specialize in this disease. All dermatologists and rheumatologists do not treat psoriasis. The National Psoriasis Foundation has one of the latest databases of current psoriasis specialists.

It is now clear that patients with psoriasis are prone to a variety of other pathological conditions, called comorbidities. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, hyperlipidemia, liver problems and arthritis are more common in patients with psoriasis. It is very important that all patients with psoriasis are carefully monitored by their primary care physicians for these associated diseases. Inflammation of joints of psoriatic arthritis and its complications are often handled by rheumatologists

What are the treatment options for psoriasis?

There are many effective treatment options for psoriasis. The best treatment is determined individually by the treating physician and depends in part on the type of illness, severity and amount of skin affected.

For mild disease that has only small areas of the body (such as less than 10% of the total surface of the skin), topical (applied skin) treatments such as creams, lotions and sprays can be very effective and safe To use. Sometimes a small local injection of steroids directly into an isolated resistant or resistant psoriatic plaque may be helpful.

For moderate to severe disease involving much larger areas of the body (> 10% or more of the total surface of the skin), topical products may not be effective or practical. This may require ultraviolet or systemic (total body treatments such as pills or) Drug injections. General internal medicine plus risk. Since topical therapy has no effect on psoriatic arthritis, systemic medications are generally necessary to stop the progression of permanent joint destruction.

It is important to note that, as with all health, all medications have potential side effects. No drug is 100% effective for everyone and no drug is 100% safe. The decision to use a medication requires careful consideration and discussion with your health care provider. The potential risks and benefits of medications should be taken into account for each type of psoriasis and the individual. In two patients with exactly the same amount of the disease can tolerate with minimal treatment, while the other may become incapable internally and require treatment.

One proposal to minimize the toxicity of some of these drugs has commonly been known as "rotating" therapy. The idea is to change the anti-psoriasis drug every six to 24 months to minimize the toxicity of a drug. The drugs selected, the proposal may be an option. An exception to this proposal is the use of new biological drugs as described below. A person who uses strong topical steroids over large areas of his body for long periods can benefit from steroids for some time and rotation in a different therapy such as calcitriol (Vectical), light therapy or a systemic drug.