Psoriasis is a skin disorder that causes red patches covered with white scales. It is very irritating in nature. It can occur anywhere on the body but most commonly on the knees, hair scalp, or around elbows. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can’t be treated completely. It doesn’t have any cure. It can be controlled but can’t finish completely.
Psoriasis occurs in a cycle, initially, the affected area becomes red then after some time bumpy red patches appear and then it spread to the whole area. There is some treatment available that will help you to control the disease. Psoriasis occurs due to an increase in skin cells, in this condition skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. While on medication the red patches get to heal and then they come back again.
Psoriasis does not spread from person to person. It generally occurs in children and then remains throughout their life. In most people, it affects a few areas. In severe cases, it gets spread to a large area of the body.
Symptoms
There are different symptoms for different types of psoriasis. Some common symptoms are:-
- Red patches on skin with white scales
- Itching
- Pain
- Dry skin
- Burning sensation
- Swollen around the infected area
Type of psoriasis
There are different types of psoriasis:-
- Pustular psoriasis– It is the most rare type of psoriasis causes pus filed lesions spread as red patches red on palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
- Plaque psoriasis– It Is the common one which causes dry, red skin patches with white scales. It cause irritation and burning feeling. Generally occur on elbows, knees and hair scalp.
- Guttate psoriasis– This mainly affects children or adult. Triggered by bacterial infection or by respiratory infections, stress, injury to skin. It cause small red spot on the trunk, arms or legs
- Inverse psoriasis– Cause bright red patches around the skin folds, armpits buttocks and under the breasts. This patches become more worse with friction and sweating.
- Erythrodermic Psoriasis– It cause red peeling rash. Triggered by severe sunburn, infections, certain medications. It must treated immediately otherwise it lead to severe illness.
Causes
There is no specific cause of Psoriasis but research said that it is a type of immune disorder. Inflammation in the immune system causes the skin to regenerate with skin cells will a rapid speed. In some psoriasis, there is the covering of white scale on red rashes. This is because of the buildup of old cells which are being replaced by new ones. The expert said that genetics, as well as environmental factors, play a key role in psoriasis.
There are many things that triggered the outbreak of psoriasis such as
- Certain medications rich in lithium
- Bacterial infection or Respiratory infection
- Sore throat
- Environmental condition
- Anti-malarial drugs
- High blood pressure medication
- Rapid intake of corticosteroids
- Cuts, scrapes, or surgery
- Emotional stress
- Alcohol, smoking
Psoriasis triggers
There are many things that triggered the outbreak of psoriasis such as
- Certain medications rich in lithium
- Bacterial infection or Respiratory infection
- Sore throat
- Environmental condition
- Anti-malarial drugs
- High blood pressure medication
- Rapid intake of corticosteroids
- Cuts, scrapes, or surgery
- Emotional stress
- Alcohol, smoking
Consult doctor
If you face any of the symptoms contact your doctor. If psoriasis doesn’t get treated early then it may become severe and can spread to the whole area.
Treatment
You can’t cure psoriasis completely. There are medications that will prevent it from spreading and will treat it for some time but if you stop treatments then psoriasis will arise again. Medicine generally slows down the growth of new skin cells and relieves itching. Based on the status or stage of psoriasis, your physical condition doctor will decide medication. Some common medications are:
- Coal tar( shampoo which will reduce the affected area of psoriasis)
- Steroids
- Use Moisturizer on dry skin(don’t overuse it)
- Cream or ointment enriched in Vitamin- D
- Retinoid creams
