psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects 125 million people world wide according to the World Psoriasis Day consortium. What causes psoriasis is unknown, but many doctors and researches believe that genetics and environmental factors trigger a hyperactive reaction of the immune system. This response then causes skin cells to multiply and mature rapidly, therefore causing the skin cells to buildup on top of each other and then eventually become red, scaly, itchy, and thick patches on skin. Even though this disease is the most common auto-immune disease in the world, there is no cure for it. Psoriasis can lead to other problems depending on the severity of the disease, however, this chronic disease has several treatment options in order to prevent further damage. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, understanding how it begins, recognizing the symptoms, and learning about treatment options can enhance the quality of life for a person diagnosed with psoriasis.

Even though it is unknown on what triggers psoriasis, doctors and researchers do know where it begins. What triggers psoriasis remains unknown, but it is known that an hyperactive auto-immune response is what leads to psoriasis. In a person without psoriasis, their skin takes about 3 weeks to a month for their skin to be renewed and replaced with new skin. However, in a person diagnosed with psoriasis, their skin cells are rapidly reproducing within days which causes the skin cells to build on top of each other. These skin cells reproduce rapidly because the immune system activates T cells (white blood cells) that begin to attack? healthy skin cells by releasing cytokines.

Cytokines are proteins that begin to signal an abnormal inflammatory response to skin cells ...

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...of the skin and slows down the process of skin growth. Phototherapy is often used without the usage of other medicine, but if the psoriasis is very severe, than it can work well with other treatments. The most common risk factor of using this method is skin cancer and skin damage around the edges of the unaffected area.

Lastly, topical treatments are medicine that are applied to the skin. These creams, gels, oils, foams and lotions are used as an anti-inflammatory agent. These have ranges of potency from super potent to least potent or 1-7. For example, corticosteroid, the most common prescribed topical, is a steroid that affects the growth and inflammation of the epidermis. However, this is often used for mild to moderate cases only since side effects of using topical treatments can result in changing of the skin, dilated blood vessels,and irritation of the skin.