Causes and Symptoms of Psoriasis

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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Affecting in the region of one out of every fifty adults, psoriasis is a physical condition that can cause considerable mental suffering. One of the most interesting breakthroughs related to what causes psoriasis is that its onset is rooted in the body’s immune system.

The symptoms connected with a flare-up of psoriasis include skin that is salmon colored, cracked, tender and irritated. One of the more commonplace types is called plaque psoriasis where the afflicted area develops eliptical, round or odd shaped patches covered with cracked, silvery colored skin. The form and sizes of the patches vary widely and individual smaller areas can combine together to form one large shape of irritated scaly skin. As well as being unsightly, these larger areas tend to crack and start bleeding.

Affected skin can be itchy and often has a burning sensation. There are no hard and fast rules as to how long any particular flare-up will last. It could last ten days or you may have to endure it for several weeks. One of the worst aspects for those affected is that it is a long-term condition and recurring flare-ups can happen at any time.

Areas of the body that are typically affected include the torso, scalp, elbows and knees although any body part can develop symptoms of psoriasis. One strange anomaly is that flare-ups tend to be symmetrical in as much that both sides of the body will be afflicted in the same areas at the same time.

It appears that hereditary factors also play a part in who is likely to develop psoriasis. Individuals whose parents or grandparents suffered with the ailment have a greater chance of developing it as well. For reasons that are not yet fully understood, T-cells, which are needed by our bodies to produce infection fighting white blood cells, cause inflammation of the skin. These same cells also set off some bodily process which results in the over production of skin cells. With nowhere else to go, these surplus skin cells amass on top of one another and produce the telling appearance of raised patches on the skin’s exterior. The red appearance is a result of increased blood supply that is needed to sustain these skin cells.

Injuries to the skin, sunlight and streptococcal infections are frequent triggers of Psoriasis. Anxiety and stress can also spark an outbreak as can alterations in hormone levels. Individuals with early stages of HIV seem to have higher instances of psoriasis as well. Cigarette smokers who also consume alcohol increase their chances of developing psoriasis.

In the absence of any recognized cure for psoriasis, there are various effectual treatments that can at least relieve the symptoms. Resisting the temptation to scratch the affected area and keeping it damp is a good start.

Localized treatments are used first with the goal of slowing the excess production of skin cells. Coal tar, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin D, tazorac and anthrallin are common topical treatment options as are specially developed bathing products and moisturizers. For more serious cases where localized treatments maybe ineffective, systemic medications may be prescribed by the physician. An additional effectual method of psoriasis treatment is with the use phototherapy, where, under strict medical supervision, the sufferer is exposed to ultra violet radiation.

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