Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin condition that alters the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells to quickly build up, up to ten times faster, on the surface area of the skin. The extra skin cells appear to be thick, silvery scales that are itchy, dry, red patches that can be painful at times. Sometimes, the skin cells can crack and bleed. In severe cases, the irritated skin cells will grow together, covering large areas of the skin. The most common parts of the body where psoriasis occurs, are on elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet. However, it can show up on other parts of the body.
The Anatomical and Physiological Implications: Psoriasis is a problem with the immune system. With cell turnover, skin cells that are created
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There may be periods when the psoriasis symptoms get better, while other periods the psoriasis worsens. Symptoms include areas of red, inflamed skin. The skin is often covered with loose, silvery scales that may be irritated or painful. Fingernail and toenails problems may arise, such as changing color, texture, or begin to separate. Scalp issues include patches of scales or crust that may form on the head.
Method of Diagnosis: Typically a family physician or dermatologist will be able to diagnose psoriasis simply by examining the skin. Nevertheless, psoriasis can be difficult to diagnose, because it can look similar to other skin diseases such as eczema. If the doctor is unsure whether or not it is psoriasis, he or she may order a biopsy. The doctor will remove a small sample of the skin and have it looked at underneath a
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Scientists have discovered about twenty-five genes that are diverse in people with psoriasis. They have determined it takes more than one gene to cause the disease, and they are continuing to search for the main ones. About ten in every one hundred people have genes that make them more susceptible to get psoriasis, but only two or three of them are actually diagnosed with it. Generally, psoriasis is more common in adults and occasionally run in the family. People who are overweight or obese are more vulnerable to get psoriasis in their skin creases. An assortment of factors can influence an episode of psoriasis, such as emotional stress and trauma. As many as eighty percent of people have reported having an outbreak report a recent emotional trauma, such as a death of a family member. Injured skin and certain drugs can also aggravate psoriasis, for example, medications such as beta-blockers and ibuprofen can cause a flare-up.
Habits that Reduce the Disorder: To make one feel more in control of the skin condition and help to communicate more efficiently with the doctor, tracking flare-ups of psoriasis can assist. Psoriasis triggers can include emotional stress, medications, winter climates, shaving, and injury to the skin. To avoid such triggers, one may keep the skin moisturized, wear protective
To begin we will look at the integumentary system and its entire multitude of functions. The main components of the integumentary system are the skin, hair, nails, glands and nerves. For the purpose of this paper we will focus mainly on the levels of the skin and their functions. While the integumentary
Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(1):124–125. Puchenkova, S. G. (1996). "
The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body, and it defends the body from “foreign invaders.” Immunity can be divided in two three different defenses, and these are defined as first, second and third lines of defense. The first line of defense for the immune system is the primary defense against pathogens entering the body from the surface in order to prevent the start of disease and infection. Some examples of the first line of defense is the skin, protecting the external boundaries of the body, and the mucous membranes, protecting the internal boundaries of the body. Although the skin and mucous membranes work on the internal and external boundaries, they both release chemicals
Nail problems are common in patients with Allopecia areata since both are composed of keratin.
If having dry skin isn’t bad enough, witnessing it in front of you get into clumps and morphing into a patch of dry skin most be the worst. Ichtyosis Vulgaris (or also called fish scale disease) is a skin disorder that is passed down the family line that leads to dry, scaly skin. Ichtyosis Vulgaris is one type of skin disorder that is very common. You are born with this skin disease which it is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. This type of skin disease is not life threating at all but there really isn’t a way to cure it at you just have to go on living with it. They symptoms of Ichtyosis Vulgaris are: dry skin, scaly skin, mild itching of the skin, and maybe some skin thickening. With time the dry skin can actually begin to bunch up together and start to create patches on your skin covering large areas of your body such as the back, arms, and legs. Unless spotted at a young age most cases of Ichtyosis Vulgaris go undiagnosed due people thinking that it is only “dry skin”
The causes of most cases of lupus is unknown, but it is believed that it is a result of both genetics and environment. Some people are genetically predisposed to lupus, and the onset of the disease can sometimes be triggered by some types of infections, drugs and even sunlight. Medications such as anti-seizure drugs, blood pressure medications and antibiotics. People with lupus brought on by drugs usually see their symptoms disappear when they stop the medication. In people who are susceptible to lupus sunlight can bring on lupus skin lesions.
The spots may become dark brown or black that is visible on the skin surface.
Other lesions, such as eczema, body lice, insect bites, fungal infections, poison ivy, and various forms of dermatitis can make a person susceptible to this infection.... ... middle of paper ... ... The New York Times.
Psoriasis is a disease that has been associated with humans since the beginning of time. It is a type of autoimmune disease that produces red, slivery, and scaly patches to appear on the skin. Autoimmune disease is a type of disease that occurs when the body’s immune system mistaken the body’s organs as foreign substance. Psoriasis is chronic and can affect people of all ages but it is not contagious. There are currently about 125 million people around the world suffering from psoriasis or about 3% of the world’s total population. This essay will discuss the importance, biochemistry, and the potential treatment options of psoriasis.
The second layer of the skin is called the dermis and is also known as the middle layer. The dermis is what holds the body together. The dermis has layers to it as well as the epidermis. There are two layers to the dermis, the papillary layer and the reticular layer. The cells of the dermis are fibroblast, macrophages, mast cells, and scattered white blood cells (wbc’s). the dermis is richly supplied with nerve fibers and BV;s. dermal BV’s is also a part of the integumentary system, dermal BV,s have converging and diverging vessels that ar...
The integumentary system is composed of the skin and the structures related to the skin, which include the hair, the finger nails, the sensory receptors and the glands (Shier, Butler, & Lewis, 2009). This system has an important function since it provides protection to the body, helps to maintain body temperature, and contains sensory receptors (p.117). The skin has essential function such as regulating homeostasis and body temperature, also delaying the loss of water from deeper tissues, storing sensory receptor, synthesizing biomechanical, and discharging waste from the body (p.117). The skin has two layers: the epidermis (outer layer) and the dermis (inner layer) (p.117). There is also a subcutaneous layer or hypodermis (p.117). According to Shier, Butler, and Lewis 2009 “as its name indicates, this layer is beneath the skin and not a true layer of the skin” (p.117). This layer has the blood vessels that supply the skin (p.117).
Skin Cancer is caused by hereditary factors, overexposure to the sun, and weak immune systems. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) One reason people tend to get skin cancer is when someone in your family has passed their genes down to you, known as hereditary. Normally hereditary is one of the causes in the development of melanoma. For all types of skin cancers, overexposure of the skin to UV radiation in sunlight is the most frequently blamed source of skin cancer. “Research suggests that sunburns received early in one’s childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life” (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com). For example, when someone gets sunburned, you usually don’t know till ten to twenty years after and that’s why people don’t get skin cancer till they reach their twenties.
Inverse psoriasis affects the folds of the skin and it displays vivid red lesions that appear as a smooth and shiny rash, unlike other types of psoriasis. Generally, it doesn’t display the scaly appearance of plaque psoriasis. Although it may not look as severe as other types of psoriasis, it is known to be one of the most painful and difficult to treat. The most common areas of skin affected are areas where skin rubs against skin, such as under the arms, under the breasts, in the groin, or around skinfolds in the genital area. The skin in these areas is often far more sensitive than other areas of the body. The skin in these areas is known to retain moisture, such as sweat or water, causing further irritation and making it more prone to psoriasis flare ups. The affected skin becomes very sore and inflamed. Since the rash thrives in the skin folds, overweight or obese people tend to be at a much higher risk for developing inverse psoriasis. The most common forms of treatment for this type of psoriasis are topical medications, such as steroid creams and ointments, as well as phototherapy. If the inverse psoriasis isn’t getting better after those two treatment options, biologic drugs are then given. Biologic drugs work by using proteins to block the way the immune system responds, reducing future attacks. Treating inverse psoriasis can be extremely difficult considering the affected
One way of preventing dry skin is to spend less time in the bath or shower. Bathe or shower once a day and make sure you are in and out within fifteen minutes. This means your body's natural oils are not stripped. Use gentle cleansers on your skin, preferably ones which contain added moisturizers.
Skin problems: stress aggravates the skin and will cause skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Stress is also relation to rashes which are unexplained and itchy.