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Acne Help (Home) > Rare Skin Disorders > Psoriasis Psoriasis: Causes, Symptoms and TreatmentPsoriasis is the inflammatory condition of skin. There are five types of Psoriasis, each with distinct signs and symptoms. About 10% and 30% of people who develop psoriasis get a related form of arthritis "psoriatic arthritis". The psoriatic arthritis causes inflammation of the joints. The most common type of psoriasis is Plaque psoriasis. It is estimated that about 80% of people who develop psoriasis have plaque psoriasis that appear as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale. These patches, or plaques, often form on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. Though, the plaques can occur anywhere on the body. The other types psoriasis are guttate psoriasis (small, red spots on the skin)Pustular psoriasis (white pustules surrounded by red skin), inverse psoriasis (smooth, red lesions form in skin folds), and erythrodermic psoriasis (widespread redness, severe itching, and pain). Any types of psoriasis cause lot of discomfort. The skin often itches, crack and bleed. In severe cases, the itching and discomfort may keep a person sleepless at night, and the pain can make performing general routine tasks difficult. Psoriasis is a chronic disorder, means a lifelong condition because there is currently no cure. People often suffer with flares and remissions throughout their life. Controlling the signs and symptoms of psoriasis generally requires lifelong therapy. Treatment for psoriasis depends on the severity and the type of psoriasis. Some psoriasis is so mild that the person is unaware of the condition. A few people develop such severe psoriasis that lesions cover most of the body and hospitalization is required. These represent the extremes. Most cases of psoriasis falls somewhere in between neither too mild nor too sever. Causes of psoriasisPsoriasis is amongst one of the oldest recorded skin disease conditions. It was probably first described around 35 AD. Some evidence indicates an even earlier date. Yet, until recently, very little was known about psoriasis. Health scientists still can not fully define the causes of psoriasis in an individual; medical research on skin and psoriasis has significantly advanced our knowledge. One important breakthrough began with the discovery that kidney-transplant recipients who had psoriasis experienced clearing when taking cyclosporine. Since cyclosporine is a potent immunosuppressive medication, this indicates that the immune system is involved. Immune system and psoriasisResearchers say that psoriasis is an immune-mediated condition. This means the condition of psoriasis in an individual is caused by faulty signals in the body's immune system. It is believed that psoriasis develops when the immune system of an individual signals the body to over-react and accelerate the growth of skin cells. Normally, skin cells mature and are shed from the skin's surface every 28 to 30 days. When psoriasis develops, the skin cells mature in 3 to 6 days and move to the skin surface. Instead of being shed, the skin cells pile up, causing the visible lesions. Psoriasis and GenesResearchers have found genes that are responsible to cause psoriasis. These genes establish how a person's immune system reacts. These set of genes can cause psoriasis or another immune-mediated condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes. The risk of developing psoriasis or another immune-mediated condition, especially diabetes or Crohn's disease in a person increases, especially when a close blood relative has psoriasis Psoriasis and Family HistorySome individuals never develop this condition despite the family history of psoriasis. Research indicates that a "trigger" is needed to cause psoriasis in a person. Stress, skin injuries, a strep infection, certain medications, and sunburn are some of the known potential triggers of psoriasis. Medications that can trigger psoriasis are anti-malarial drugs, beta-blockers (medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions), and lithium. Dermatologists have seen psoriasis suddenly appear after a person takes one of these medications, gets a strep infection, or experiences another trigger. Psoriasis researches are making contributions contributions to update our knowledge about psoriasis. Life QualityAny types of psoriasis range from mild to severe, can affect a person's living and quality of life. Living with this lifelong condition can be physically and emotionally challenging. Itching, soreness, and cracked and bleeding skin are common illness to that an individual affected with psoriasis suffers. Nail psoriasis can be extremely painful. Even the simple act of squeezing a tube of toothpaste can hurt your nails and cause a lot of discomfort. One woman described her psoriasis as feeling like "a bad sunburn that won't go away." Several studies on psoriasis have shown that people affected with symptoms generally feel frustrated. In some cases, psoriasis limits activities of a person and makes it difficult to perform routine tasks. The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that 56 million work hours are lost each year by those who have psoriasis. In addition, a survey done by the National Psoriasis Foundation in 2002 suggests that 26% of people living with moderate to severe psoriasis have been forced to change or discontinue their normal daily activities. Studies on psoriasis also suggest that stress, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem are part of daily life for people affected with psoriasis. One of the study on psoriasis also found that the suicide risks is three times higher in psoriatic persons in comparison to general population. Embarrassment is another common feeling that affects psoriatic. Imagine getting your hair cut and noticing that the stylist or barber is visibly uncomfortable. What if you extended your hand to someone and the person recoiled? How would you feel if you spent most of your life trying to hide your skin? Advances in psoriasis treatmentsWith the emergence of several new therapies and medical advances, including the biologic factors, more people are often experiencing considerable improvements and reporting a greatly improved quality of life.
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