What is Psoriasis?
By: BonebrakeTotal Views: 262, Word Count: 561,
Our skin is actually a protective covering on our body that protects us from the elements and other unnatural conditions. However, just like other human body parts, it can also get diseased and plagued by different types of infections. One such skin disease is Psoriasis.
It is a medical condition that occurs when skin cells starts growing too quickly. This occurs because of the faulty signals in the immune system. The immune system gets triggered and causes new skin cells to get formed in days rather than weeks. The body does not shed these excess skin cells, making them pile up on the surface of the skin and they end up forming lesions.
Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis
The lesions vary in appearance and are different for different types of psoriasis. The different types of psoriasis are Plaque, guttate, pustular, inverse, and erythrodermic. Most people suffer from plaque psoriasis, also known as “psoriasis vulgaris.” It causes patches of thick and scaly skin which can be colored white, silvery, or red. These patches are known as plaques and can develop anywhere on the skin, although the most common areas are the elbows, knees, lower back, and the scalp.
It is not that psoriasis affects only the skin, it can affect the nails as well. If the nails start getting pulled away from their root or develop yellowish-orange color and pitting ridges, than this could be a sign of psoriatic arthritis. If not treated properly, psoriatic arthritis can progress and can become debilitating. Make sure to see a dermatologist if your nails begin to change you develop joint pains. You can prevent joint deterioration if you go for early treatment.
How psoriasis is caused
There is a common misconception among people that Psoriasis is contagious. You cannot get psoriasis by touching, swimming in the same pool, or even having intimate with contact someone who is suffering from it.
Psoriasis is a very complicated disease. In fact, scientists are still trying to find out what happens when psoriasis develops. A person’s immune system and genes play vital roles in the human body. It has been discovered by the scientists that the T cells, a type of white blood cell that fights bacteria and viruses, trigger a reaction in the skin cells. This is why psoriasis is also referred to as a “T cell-mediated disease.” This reaction then initiates a series of events, causing new skin cells to form quickly than normal which in turn causes psoriasis.
How psoriasis affects your life
For most people, psoriasis is a nuisance and affects every aspect of their life. Being a chronic medical condition, it makes life very difficult for some. Some people have frequent flare-ups while others have occasional flare-ups.
This cycle of flare-ups and remissions often leads to feelings of embarrassment, despair, guilt and anger and also gives birth to a low self-esteem. Most of the time, due to lack of awareness, people suffering from psoriasis face social exclusion and discrimination which gives them immense emotional and psychological problems.
Use Knowledge to fight Psoriasis
As psoriasis is a life-long condition, it is important to fight it intelligently and patiently. You can fight this disease better if you are armed with knowledge about it. Seeking help from a good dermatologist and developing a healthy lifestyle can help you live life to the fullest despite psoriasis.
About the Author
Bone brake is a well known allergist. His practice encompasses naturopathy, herbal medicine and nutrition. Skin conditions treated include eczema, psoriasis and acne. He explored the treatment of allergies and allergic based conditions such as asthma, eczema and hayfever are by using different diets and techniques such as blood type diet, rotation diet, exclusion diet and kinesiology.
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