Wednesday, March 14, 2012

What is Actually Skin Psoriasis?

By Samantha Johnson


Psoriasis is a persistent inflammatory skin disorder characterized by silvery white circular patches with red thick flakes. It is an autoimmune disorder which normally affects elbows, knees, scalp, and groin. The signs are due to rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by irregular lymphocytes of the blood. It develops when the immune system sends wrong signals to speed up skin growth cycle. Normally, epidermal layer of the skin peels once in 28 days. But on the psoriatic patch, epidermal layer peels once in 4-5 days thus causes the flaking. The cause of the psoriasis is not yet understood clearly but it is believed that genetic component and various environmental triggering factors such as anxiety and seasonal changes play important roles in creating the disease.

Psoriasis has five kinds which include plaque, guttate, pustular, inverse, and erythrodermic psoriasis. Indicators of the disease vary from patient to patient. Some patients may have mild indicators while the others may have severe signs and symptoms where practically the entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin. The disease has a variable course; it gets better and worsens spontaneously. It can have periodic remissions where the skin stays clear for years but usually, it gets worst during winter.

Psoriasis is thought of as a non-curable skin issue but it can be controlled effectively with the help of various treatment methods. Different remedy selections are available to treat this issue which include medicines, light treatment, climatotherapy, and strain reduction. Other adjunct remedial possibilities include salicylic acid, sunlight, and moisturizers. The goals of the remedy are correction of the immune system, control signs and symptoms, and prevention of secondary infections. The problem has three remedy selections which include topical applications, systemic medications, and photobiotherapy.

Topical Applications

Topical applications include bath alternatives, moisturizers, petroleum jelly, and mineral oil which may help soothe affected skin. These topical agents reduce dryness and plaques on the psoriatic patches. Systemic agents containing coal tar, diathranol, corticosteroids, retinoids, vitamin D3, and fluocinonide can be applied immediately to the affected skin which can help reduce inflammation and get rid of built up scale. These ointments and creams reduce excessive proliferation of skin and clear the plaques on the affected skin.

Systemic Medications

Systemic drug treatment is used if the psoriasis is not responding to topical brokers and photobiotherapy. These medications are administered internally by tablets or injections. The systemic medications used in the remedy include retinoids, methetraxate, and cyclosporine. Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A; cyclosporine and methotrexate are immunosuppressant medications. These medications are contraindicated in pregnancy. In the course of systemic drug remedy, it is mandatory for the patients to get regular blood tests and liver organ function tests done to assess the toxicity of these medications. In most cases, it is observed that indicators recur after systemic drug psoriasis treatment is discontinued.

Photobiotherapy

PUVA remedy is the most commonly used photobiotherapy to treat psoriatic patches which include oral or topical psoralen and exposure to ultraviolet A rays. Psoralen is a photosensitizer which is administered orally or topically prior to the exposure to ultraviolet A. Psoralen makes skin sensitive to ultraviolet rays leading to high UV absorbance by the skin. Moreso, ultraviolet A rays activate psoralen that inhibits the abnormally rapid manufacturing of cells in the psoriatic skin.

Despite the fact that psoriasis doesn't have any known cause and cure, it could then again be treated. The aforementioned psoriasis treatments are immensely important to all psoriatic victims who wish to obtain ease from the dis-ease.




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