Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that results in
the skin becoming red, scaly and inflamed. There are
five main types:
-
Plaque
psoriasis – this is the most common type which presents as raised red skin
covered with a thin layer of silvery scales. The patches, or plaques, are
often circular in shape and tend to itch or burn. This form of the disease
often affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp and around the lower
back although any section of skin can be affected.
-
Guttate
psoriasis – presents as small red spots anywhere on the body. This is more
common in children and adolescents and is also known as ‘raindrop’ psoriasis.
-
Pustular
psoriasis – form of white pustules surrounded by highly inflamed skin that
occurs on the palms and the soles of the feet in middle age.
-
Inverse
psoriasis – where small, red lesions form in the natural skin folds of the
body such as in the armpit, the groin, under the breasts and between the
buttocks.
-
Erythrodermic psoriasis – widespread inflammation that makes the skin
constantly itch. This form is incredibly painful.
Psoriasis is thought to be
caused by the over activity of the body’s T-cells which are a type of white
blood cell and thus a part of the immune system. These T-cells somehow encourage
the skin cells to divide uncontrollably so that they mature and reach the
surface in 3-6 days as apposed to 28-30 days. As the old skin is not ready to be
shed the new skin piles up underneath and the lesions commonly associated with
the disease appear.
The symptoms of psoriasis
come and go without any warning and the flare ups can last for weeks at a time.
Similarly, when the symptoms abate and the disease goes in to remission it can
stay that way for days, weeks or even months. Activities such as smoking,
sunbathing and drinking excessive quantities of alcohol are thought to initiate
flare ups and so it is recommended that sufferers abstain from these and several
other pastimes.
The diagnosis of psoriasis is
quite straight forward and can normally be made simply by looking at the skin
plaques. In most cases the skin plaques are indicative of the disease however in
the odd cases a skin biopsy may be taken to rule out the possibility of other
diseases and to confirm the actual diagnosis.
Around 1.2million people are
thought to suffer with the disease in the UK and in the world this figure rises
to around 3 in every 100 people. A common complication that affects between 10
and 20% of psoriasis sufferers is psoriatic arthritis. This is a condition
affecting the joints of the body and they become very swollen and painful.
Psoriasis does not affect
life span however in severe cases it can affect quality of life, especially when
the skin becomes cracked and ultimately infected. Although the condition isn’t
overly painful it is incredibly itchy and the skin feels as if it is constantly
burning. The majority of sufferers however learn to live with the condition and
continue to enjoy life as normal.
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