What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a long term (chronic) disorder that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick,white,silvery or red patches of skin.These skin patches are typically red, itchy, and scaly.
The least common type of psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis can cover your entire body with a red, peeling rash that can itch or burn intensely.
The dead cells move quickly to the outer layer of your skin and build up, forming red patches covered in flaky, silver scales. The skin also turns red and inflamed. … The itch is caused by psoriasis scales, flakiness, and inflamed skin.
- Normally skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks.New skin cells grow to replace the outer layers of skin as they shed.But in Psoriasis new skin cells move rapidly to the surface of the skin in days rather than weeks.
- They build up and form new patches called Plaques.
- They most often appears on knees,elbows,scalp,hands,feet or lower back.
- It is most common in adults but children and teens may also suffer.
Causes of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an auto-immune condition in which the immune cells of body attack the body’s own skin cells.It causes abnormally fast growth of cells leading to thick skin and excessive shedding of cells.
There are some triggering factors:
- Bacterial infection,viral infection
- Stress
- Any cut, snake bite,injury to the skin
- Environmental factors- sunburn,chemical burns
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol
- Certain medications
Symptoms of Psoriasis
Psoriasis signs and symptoms can vary from person to person but may include one or more of the following:
- Red patches of skin covered with silvery scales
- Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children)
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
- Itching, burning or soreness
- Thickened, pitted or ridged nails
- Swollen and stiff joints
Psoriasis patches can range from a few spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions that cover large areas.
Types of Psoriasis
1.Mucous membrane Psoriasis-This occurs in children and often follows an upper respiratory infection.Many pinhead to pea-sized papules erupt abruptly over the trunk and limbs sparing the palms and soles.
2.Chronic plaque Psoriasis-Coin to palm-sized ,large,well defined,erythematous ,scaly plaques are distributed bilaterally on the elbows,knees,scalp and lumbosacral areas.
3.Exfoliative Psoriasis-In this type generalized erythema and scaling affecting more than 90%of body surface.It is precipitated by sudden withdrawl of corticosteroids.
4.Pustular Psoriasis-Superficial pustules instead of papules and scales are developed.May be localized on palms and soles or may be generalized.
5.Guttatte Psoriasis-Occasionally some patients ,usually children suddenly develop numerous,erythematous,scaly papules 0.5-1cm in size resembling Psoriasis.
6.Psoriasis Unguis-Characterstic changes in nails are seen in few patients such as multiple pin poin pits on the nail plate, separation of the nail plate from the nail bed called Onycholysis ,and brownish discolouration,thickening and irregularity of nail plate called Onychodystrophy.
7.Psoriatic – It is a condition where there is psoriasis with joint affection.Symptoms include swelling,stiffness and pain in the affected joint.
Scalp Psoriasis
At the onset, scalp psoriasis often is confused with seborrheic dermatitis (Dandruff). Dandruff tends to itch more, and it has a greasy-appearing yellow scale; in contrast, psoriasis — whether it’s on your scalp or any other body part — tends to have a thick, silvery scale. Scalp psoriasis may itch and become easily irritated during a flare, however, and it also may affect your hairline or creep down onto your forehead, nape of your neck, or your ears.
Psoriasis is common on the scalp. Researchers estimate that at least half (50 percent) of the people who have plaque (plak) psoriasis will have at least one flare-up on the scalp.
Psoriatic
It is a form of arth that affects some people who have psoriasis — a condition that features red patches of skin topped with silvery scales. Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with psoriatic , but the joint problems can sometimes begin before skin lesions appear.
Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main symptoms of PA. They can affect any part of your body, including your fingertips and spine, and can range from relatively mild to severe. In both psoriasis and PA, disease flares may alternate with periods of remission.
Symptoms of PA
The signs and symptoms of PA include some or all of the following:
- Discomfort, stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling, or tenderness in one or more joints.
- Reduced range of motion in joints.
- Morning stiffness and fatigue.
- Silver or gray scaly spots on the scalp, elbows, knees, or the lower spine.
- Inflammation or stiffness in the lower back, wrists, knees, or ankles, or swelling in the small joints in the fingers and toes closest to the nail, giving these joints a sausage-like appearance (dactylitis).
- Pitting (small depressions) of the nails.
- Detachment of fingernails or toenails.
- Tenderness, pain, or swelling where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone (enthesitis).
- Inflammation of the eye.
Most types of psoriasis go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a time or even going into complete remission.