Psoriasis

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis disease is an autoimmune condition that causes cells to build-up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are often associated with itching and flaking. Psoriasis symptoms usually occur on the scalp (scalp psoriasis), elbows, knees, lower back and genitals. In some cases, psoriasis can also affect the fingernails.

Psoriasis disease is not contagious and in most people, the rash is limited to a few patches of skin. In severe cases, it can cover large areas of the body. The main goal of an effective psoriasis treatment should therefore be to stop the skin cells from growing rapidly and avoid build-up.

Psoriasis Types

There are 9 different types of psoriasis. Let’s look at each of these psoriasis types in detail.

1. Psoriasis Vulgaris: It is also known as plaque psoriasis. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. It displays red, raised patches with silvery scales.
2. Guttate Psoriasis: This type of psoriasis appears as small, separate and drop-shaped red spots on the skin. The spots are not as thick as in plaque psoriasis, but they can develop into plaque psoriasis over time. Strep throat, skin injury, stress and infection can trigger this psoriasis type.
3. Pustular Psoriasis: It is a severe type of psoriasis. In this psoriasis type, the lesions are filled with pus, besides having other peculiar characteristics. Postural psoriasismay affect isolated areas of the body, like the feet and hands, or cover most of the surface of the skin. The pustules can join together and also form scaling.
4. Inverse Psoriasis: In this type of psoriasis, bright red, smooth patches are seen in the folds of the skin. The areas that are commonly affected include underarms, under the breasts, genital areas, under the buttocks and under abdominal skin folds.
5. Erythrodermic Psoriasis: This is a rare type of psoriasis and can be quite serious and life-threatening. Patients develop intense redness and scaling almost all over their body, often accompanied by the copious shedding of scales. This can be triggered by severe sunburn, intake of steroids, etc. In severe cases, the patient may develop dehydration, fever and infection which may require hospitalization.
6. Nail Psoriasis: Fingernails and toenails are also affected by different types of psoriasis. In many types of psoriasis, they appear discoloured, thickened, pitted or ridged and they crumble or detach from the nail bed.
7. Scalp Psoriasis: This psoriasis type is common in people with plaque psoriasis. It leaves the scalp dry with scaly or heavily crusted plaque areas. The plaque flakes-off or peels-off in clusters.
8. Psoriatic Arthritis: According to an article published in the Polish Journal of Radiology, the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis is reported to be approximately 30% among people with psoriasis. The symptoms of this psoriasis type include swelling, stiffness and pain in the affected joints. This can be quite crippling in the advanced stages.
9. Palmoplantar Psoriasis: In this psoriasis type, lesions are seen on the palms and soles of patients.

Causes of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic auto-immune condition in which the immune cells of the body mistakenly attack the body’s own skin cells. This triggers an abnormal response, resulting in a rapid growth of cells. This rapid build-up creates silvery scales of thickened skin resulting in excessive shedding. Psoriasis usually occurs on the scalp (scalp psoriasis), elbows, knees, lower back and genitals. Psoriasis is not contagious, and, in most cases, the rash is limited to a few patches of skin. In severe cases, it can cover large areas of the body.

The psoriasis triggers of autoimmunity are not known, however; it tends to run in families. A genetic background or connection has been verified in many cases. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, about 40% of people with psoriasis disease have family members suffering from the skin problem.

Some of the other causes of psoriasis that are believed to be psoriasis triggers are:

• Extreme stress:Mental stress is a major reason for psoriasis as it causes the body to release chemicals that boost the inflammatory response. This results in a rapid build-up of skin cells, causing stress-induced flare-up.
• Infections:Infections like strep throat (a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat) in particular, is linked with guttate psoriasis. Earaches, bronchitis, tonsillitis or respiratory infections such as a cold or the flu may also be psoriasis triggers or causes of psoriasis.
• Cold and dry weather:Dry air, defused natural sunlight and cold temperatures are causes of psoriasis skin disease.
• Friction and injuries to the skin:A cut, scrape, bug bite, infection or excessive scratching can also be psoriasis triggers.
• Excessive intake of alcohol and smoking:This can be a major reason for psoriasis as it triggers a flare-up and decreases the likelihood of psoriasis remission. It also reduces immunity and alters the immune system resulting in increased risk of infection.

SYMPTOMS:

The symptoms of psoriasis vary depending upon the type of psoriasis. Let’s look at psoriasis signs and symptoms for each type.

1. Plaque Psoriasis

According to an article published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, about 80% to 90% of patients with psoriasis suffer from this type of psoriasis. Psoriasis symptoms for this type are as listed below:

• Patches of thick, raised skin known as plaque
• A dry, thin and silvery-white coating (scales) covers some plaque
• Plaque of different sizes
• Smaller plaque joining together to form larger plaque

It is also known as psoriasis vulgaris and is commonly seen on the scalp, elbows, knees and lower back.

2. Guttate Psoriasis

In this type of psoriasis, psoriasis symptoms appear quite suddenly as tiny bumps on the skin. The bumps seem to be:

• Scaly and small
• Salmon-coloured to pink
• Mostly temporary

The symptoms of psoriasis in this type are generally seen on the torso, arms and legs. In some cases, the bumps can also develop on the scalp, face and ears.

3. Pustular Psoriasis

The primary psoriasis symptom for this type involves pus-filled bumps. While the bumps may look like an infection, the skin is not infected. This is because the bumps don’t contain bacteria or any substances that can cause an infection. Pustular psoriasis symptoms include:

• Swollen, red skin dotted with pus-filled bumps
• Extremely painful or sore skin
• Brown dots (or scales) which appear when the pus-filled bumps dry

Pustular psoriasis symptoms usually appear on the hands and feet.

4. Inverse Psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis symptoms generally include the following:

• Smooth, red patches of skin that appears raw
• Minimal, if any, silvery-white coating (scales)
• Painful or sore skin

Inverse psoriasis signs and symptoms are most likely to be seen in areas where the skin touches skin, such as the armpits, genitals, creases of the buttocks and other folds of the skin.

5. Erythrodermic Psoriasis

This type of psoriasis is serious and can be life-threatening. Erythrodermic psoriasis symptoms are as follows:

• Redness and scaling almost all over the body
• Copious shedding of scales
• Fever, chills and the person looks extremely ill
• A rapid pulse, muscle weakness and severe itch

People with this type of psoriasis should seek immediate medical attention.

6. Nail Psoriasis

While psoriasis generally affects the skin, it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the nails. The symptoms of psoriasis when it affects the nails are as mentioned below:

• Small dents in your nails (nail pits)
• Rough, crumbling nails
• Yellow, white or brown discoloration under one or more nails
• Build-up of skin cells under one or more nails, which lifts up the nail

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about half the people with plaque psoriasis see signs and symptoms of psoriasis on their fingernails at some point.

7. Scalp Psoriasis

Mild scalp psoriasis symptoms may include only slight, fine scaling. Moderate to severe scalp psoriasis symptoms include:

• Silvery-white scales
• Red, scaly, bumpy patches
• Dandruff-like flaking
• Dry scalp
• Soreness or burning
• Itching
• Temporary hair loss (in some cases)

Scalp psoriasis symptoms can appear as a single patch or several patches and can affect your entire scalp. It can also spread to the back of your neck, forehead or behind and inside your ears.

8. Psoriatic Arthritis

When psoriasis affects the joints of the body, it can cause a condition known as psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms of psoriasis in case of psoriatic arthritis include:

• A tender and swollen joint, especially in toes or fingers
• Heel pain
• Swelling on the back of your leg, just above your heel
• Joint stiffness in the morning that fades during the day

Psoriatic arthritis commonly develops in people who experience symptoms of psoriasis for very long. It is important to seek early medical attention for psoriatic arthritis. If allowed to progress, psoriatic arthritis can become disabling.

9. Palmoplantar Psoriasis

It is a type of psoriasis which affects the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Palmoplantar psoriasis symptoms can be seen as follows on the affected areas of the hands and soles:

• Red, thickened skin
• Silvery scales
• Dry, cracked skin
• Bleeding
• A burning, itchy sensation
• Soreness
• Thickened, ridged nails
• Pits or depressions in nails
• Stiff, swollen joints

10. Psoriasis Treatment
11. Psoriasis is a chronic auto-immune disease wherein the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks the body’s own skin cells. This causes cells to build-up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are often associated with itching and flaking.
12. Homeopathy offers long-lasting psoriasis treatment without any side-effects by building the immunity of the patient. This results in better management of psoriasisand also controls the further progression of the disease.
13. * Psoriasis treatment effects may vary from person to person