Thursday, March 22, 2012

What Exactly is Skin Psoriasis?



Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by silvery white circular patches with red thick flakes. It is an autoimmune disorder which frequently affects elbows, knees, scalp, and groin. The signs or symptoms are due to rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by the abnormal 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 inflicts the flaking. The cause of t psoriasis is not yet understood clearly but it is believed that genetic component and various environmental triggering factors such as strain and seasonal changes play important roles in causing the disease.

Psoriasis has five forms which include plaque, guttate, pustular, inverse, and erythrodermic psoriasis. Indicators of the disease vary from patient to patient. Some patients may have mild signs and symptoms while the others may have severe 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 in wintertime.

Psoriasis is thought of as a non-curable skin problem but it can be controlled effectively with the help of various remedy methods. Different remedy selections are available to treat this ailment, which include medication, light treatment, climatotreatment, and stress reduction. Other adjunct treatment selections include salicylic acid, sun, and moisturizers. The goals of the treatment are correction of the immune system, control indicators, and prevention of secondary infections. The situation has three remedy selections which include topical applications, systemic medications, and photobiotherapy.

Topical Applications


Topical applications include bath options, 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 utilized straight to the affected skin which can help reduce inflammation and eliminate built up scale. These ointments and creams reduce excessive proliferation of skin and clear the plaques on the affected skin.

Systemic Medications


Systemic drug remedy is used if the psoriasis is not responding to topical agents 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 medication. These medications are contraindicated in pregnancy. During 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 medicines. In most cases, it is observed that signs and symptoms recur after systemic drug psoriasis treatment is discontinued.

Photobiotherapy


PUVA therapy is the most normally used photobiotherapy to treat psoriatic patches which includes oral or topical psoralen and exposure to ultraviolet A rays. Psoralen is a photosensitizer which is administered orally or topically earlier than the exposure to ultraviolet A. Psoralen makes skin sensitive to ultraviolet rays inflicting high UV absorbance by the skin. In addition, ultraviolet A rays activate psoralen that inhibits the irregularly rapid production of cells in the psoriatic skin.

Even though skin psoriasis doesn't have any recognized cause and cure, it would possibly be remedied. The abovementioned psoriasis treatments are highly recommended to all psoriatic patients who would like to find ease from the dis-ease.



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