Psoriasis - Symptoms & Treatment

Psoriasis is a disease of skin which is charactirized by cells turnover in the skin. In psoriasis, the cells grow very fast and rise to the skin's surface so it can develop in few days. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease which affects the skin and joints .They can be found on the knees, scalp, elbows, soles of the feet, lower back, palms, face, other parts of the legs, finger nails or toenails, inside the mouth and genital area. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and sometimes takes a silvery-white appearance.

Symptoms of Psoriasis

Generally, one or more of the following symptoms appears:

• Generalized fatigue
• Tenderness, pain and swelling over tendons
• Swollen fingers and toes
• Stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
• A reduced range of motion
• Psoriatic plaques tend to appear on both sides of the body in the same places.
• The plaque areas on the skin are elevated.
• Morning stiffness and tiredness
• Nail changes—for example, the nail separates from the nail bed and/or becomes pitted and mimics fungus infections
• Redness and pain of the eye, such as conjunctivitis

Causes of Psoriasis

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. Psoriasis develops when the skin cells grow rapidly and the immune system tells the body to over-react. Patients who have psoriasis, can experiences stress strep infection, sunburn, skin injuries and certain medications.the causes are listed below :

• Psoriasis can experiences stress strep infection, sunburn, skin injuries and certain medications.
• Injury to the skin has been associated with plaque psoriasis.
• Red drop-like lesions are found on the skin. This type of psoriasis usually occurs after a streptococcal (bacterial) infection.
• Cigarette smokers have an increased risk of chronic plaque psoriasis.
• Alcohol is considered a risk factor for psoriasis, particularly in young to middle-aged males.

Treatment of Psoriasis

The treatment of Psoriasis are different types as shown below :

• Topical treatment- Bath solutions and moisturizers help sooth affected skin and reduce the dryness which accompanies the build-up of skin on psoriasis plaques. It can also reduce swelling and suppress the immune system.

• Systemic treatment - Psoriasis which is resistant to topical treatment and phototherapy is treated by medications that are taken internally by pill or injection.

• Light therapy - Natural UV rays such as UVA or UVB from the sun and artificial ultraviolet light both are good for treatment of psoriasis.
• Combination therapy - In combination therapy, more than two therapy may make combine to treat psoriasis.
• Psoralen and ultraviolet - This is a treatment of combination of topical administration of a medicine and UVA light. It is associated with side effects such as headache, burning, nausea and itching.