There are many beliefs as to the cause of psoriasis. Although no one knows for sure, many scientists believe that a biochemical stimulus triggers the abnormally high skin growth which will in turn cause the skin lesions (National Psoriasis Foundation). Heredity also plays a role in the development of psoriasis. Individuals who have a family member with a severe case of psoriasis tend to experience early onset of the disease (Camisa 55). Recent research studies indicate that psoriasis may be a disorder of the immune system. The T cell, a white blood cell, normally works to fight off infection and disease. Scientists believe that having an abnormal immune system may cause abnormal activity by T cells in the skin. These abnormally active T cells cause skin inflammation and increased cell production. Diet and vitamin influences are thought to play a role in psoriasis development and progression (Kligman 729).
Because psoriasis is a lifelong condition, the levels of its severity and improvement can fluctuate over time. Psoriasis is not a contagious skin condition. An individual instead, has a genetic predisposition for psoriasis, which can be activated by certain environmental factors or emotional stress. Individuals with psoriasis may find that their condition tends to flare up due to stress, certain medications, winter weather, and infections (ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). Most often psoriasis affects the scalp, knees, elbows, hands, and feet (National Psoriasis Foundation).
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Picture of Psoriasis Awareness
Fashion designer Maria Grachvogel has attracted fame for her stunning designs, and also for launching Victoria Beckham on to the catwalk.
She works exclusively on people's images but, until now, she has never spoken about a condition which has damaged the self-images of many sufferers.
The 35-year-old is one of the 1.2 million people in the UK who suffer from psoriasis - a chronic, genetic, non-contagious skin disorder, which can affect any part of the body.
The scalp, hands, elbows, feet and nails are often affected with thick red patches of skin covered in itchy whitish scales.
Maria suffers from it on her scalp and believes it is triggered by stress.
Now she is backing a new nationwide campaign, Beautiful Me, to make spas and beauty salons more welcoming to those with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
"I became conscious of it when I was around 12," she says. "It looks like severe dandruff and it's very itchy. I was finally diagnosed at 14 and have had it ever since.
"I am just lucky that mine is not particularly noticeable."
She avoids hairsprays and rarely blow-dries her hair because heat makes it worse.
In common with many sufferers, she finds the condition sometimes disappears, only to return and flare up again.
"Education about skin problems is crucial but especially for psoriasis because there's less awareness of it," she maintains.
"People see a skin condition and don't know what to make of it, so they're naturally fearful. I hope the Beautiful Me campaign will help sufferers be more accepted into the mainstream community and the world of beauty, which will boost their morale."
She works exclusively on people's images but, until now, she has never spoken about a condition which has damaged the self-images of many sufferers.
The 35-year-old is one of the 1.2 million people in the UK who suffer from psoriasis - a chronic, genetic, non-contagious skin disorder, which can affect any part of the body.
The scalp, hands, elbows, feet and nails are often affected with thick red patches of skin covered in itchy whitish scales.
Maria suffers from it on her scalp and believes it is triggered by stress.
Now she is backing a new nationwide campaign, Beautiful Me, to make spas and beauty salons more welcoming to those with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
"I became conscious of it when I was around 12," she says. "It looks like severe dandruff and it's very itchy. I was finally diagnosed at 14 and have had it ever since.
"I am just lucky that mine is not particularly noticeable."
She avoids hairsprays and rarely blow-dries her hair because heat makes it worse.
In common with many sufferers, she finds the condition sometimes disappears, only to return and flare up again.
"Education about skin problems is crucial but especially for psoriasis because there's less awareness of it," she maintains.
"People see a skin condition and don't know what to make of it, so they're naturally fearful. I hope the Beautiful Me campaign will help sufferers be more accepted into the mainstream community and the world of beauty, which will boost their morale."
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Picture the Symptoms of Psoriasis
Individuals with psoriasis experience symptoms such as itching, cracking, stinging, burning, or bleeding. Lack of sunlight and low indoor humidity in the winter months can cause the psoriasis symptoms to worsen.
The skin is most likely to crack at the joints where the body bends, or in areas where the individual scratches. Scratching should be strictly avoided, because it can cause bleeding and infection. Psoriasis has also been known to cause pits or dents to form in fingernails and toenails. There is also the possibility that the soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia can be affected. In some cases, psoriasis will cause joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.
People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then improves. Conditions that may cause flare-ups include changes in climate, infections, stress, and dry skin. Also, certain medicines, most notably beta-blockers, which are used in the treatment of high blood pressure, and lithium or drugs used in the treatment of depression, may cause an outbreak or worsening of the disease.
The skin is most likely to crack at the joints where the body bends, or in areas where the individual scratches. Scratching should be strictly avoided, because it can cause bleeding and infection. Psoriasis has also been known to cause pits or dents to form in fingernails and toenails. There is also the possibility that the soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia can be affected. In some cases, psoriasis will cause joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.
People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then improves. Conditions that may cause flare-ups include changes in climate, infections, stress, and dry skin. Also, certain medicines, most notably beta-blockers, which are used in the treatment of high blood pressure, and lithium or drugs used in the treatment of depression, may cause an outbreak or worsening of the disease.
Friday, November 19, 2004
The Historical Picture of Psoriasis
Psoriasis was mentioned in Greek mythology more than 2,500 years ago. It was considered a curse from the gods.
The Bible refers to psoriasis but mistakenly calls it leprosy. For hundreds of years, people with the disease were ostracized and forced to wander as homeless beggars. Some had to wear warning bells so others could avoid their paths. Some suffered the same fate as lepers, who were burned at the stake in the 14th century.
"Amazingly, psoriasis was a disease that had been misunderstood for more than 2,000 years before it was clearly defined (in the early 1800s) and named what we know it as today."
The Bible refers to psoriasis but mistakenly calls it leprosy. For hundreds of years, people with the disease were ostracized and forced to wander as homeless beggars. Some had to wear warning bells so others could avoid their paths. Some suffered the same fate as lepers, who were burned at the stake in the 14th century.
"Amazingly, psoriasis was a disease that had been misunderstood for more than 2,000 years before it was clearly defined (in the early 1800s) and named what we know it as today."
Friday, November 12, 2004
The Mineral Picture
The Dead Sea in Israel offers very effective treatment for psoriasis patients. Corticosteroid preparations are not prescribed and if they are being used by the patient prior to arrival, their application is usually stopped.
Occasionally antihistamines are prescribed to help relieve itching.
After the first week of gradual acclimatisation to the local conditions, patients can expose themselves more freely to the sun, avoiding only the midday periods and heat stress.
Results of treatment: - Clearing psoriasis is usually good, and more many sufferers exceeds the results achieved by conventional therapies. However, the healing process is usually slower and for many patients a stay of 6 rather than 4 weeks tends to be more effective. However, a study conducted involving 535 atopic dermatitis patients who stayed at the Dead sea for a period of 4-6 weeks revealed that symptoms cleared or definitely improved in 72.7% of the patients, and a further 24.3% experienced some improvement, and only 3% showed no improvement at all. However, of 177 patients who stayed for 1-4 weeks, the results were not as good; only 50% of them were symptom-free or showed good improvement.
Don't want to travel to Israel for treatment? Dead Sea salt preparations are available for purchase with the benefit of having treatments done at home.
Occasionally antihistamines are prescribed to help relieve itching.
After the first week of gradual acclimatisation to the local conditions, patients can expose themselves more freely to the sun, avoiding only the midday periods and heat stress.
Results of treatment: - Clearing psoriasis is usually good, and more many sufferers exceeds the results achieved by conventional therapies. However, the healing process is usually slower and for many patients a stay of 6 rather than 4 weeks tends to be more effective. However, a study conducted involving 535 atopic dermatitis patients who stayed at the Dead sea for a period of 4-6 weeks revealed that symptoms cleared or definitely improved in 72.7% of the patients, and a further 24.3% experienced some improvement, and only 3% showed no improvement at all. However, of 177 patients who stayed for 1-4 weeks, the results were not as good; only 50% of them were symptom-free or showed good improvement.
Don't want to travel to Israel for treatment? Dead Sea salt preparations are available for purchase with the benefit of having treatments done at home.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Steroids And Psoriasis
Topical steroid medications are one of the most common treatments for mild to moderate psoriasis.
Steroids are prescribed to reduce redness (inflammation) and itching and stop the rapid build-up of dead skin cells. Steroids come in varying strengths, from weak to highly potent. They are available as creams, gels, lotions, ointments, or solutions.
A steroid mousse is now available to treat scalp psoriasis.
Topical steroids can become less effective if used repeatedly for a long time. This is called steroid-resistance. The best outcome may be achieved when topical steroids are combined with other medications applied to the skin.
Steroids in the form of pills or injections are generally not used to treat psoriasis because they have too many serious side effects.
Psoriasis may reoccur when treatment stops. Long-term use of potent topical steroids on large areas of skin can produce side effects such as stretch marks, thinning and reddening of the skin, and the appearance of small blood vessels through the skin.
Steroids are not recommended for application on the face or on areas of the body where the skin folds, such as the armpits, groin, and webs of the toes.
Use of steroid ointments and creams requires good judgment and careful supervision.
Ask the doctor about potency and side effects of prescribed corticosteroid medicines.
Corticosteroid medicines are prescribed for atopic dermatitis to calm the inflamed skin. Avoid combination topical steroid/antifungal cream in the treatment of diaper rash.
Steroids are prescribed to reduce redness (inflammation) and itching and stop the rapid build-up of dead skin cells. Steroids come in varying strengths, from weak to highly potent. They are available as creams, gels, lotions, ointments, or solutions.
A steroid mousse is now available to treat scalp psoriasis.
Topical steroids can become less effective if used repeatedly for a long time. This is called steroid-resistance. The best outcome may be achieved when topical steroids are combined with other medications applied to the skin.
Steroids in the form of pills or injections are generally not used to treat psoriasis because they have too many serious side effects.
Psoriasis may reoccur when treatment stops. Long-term use of potent topical steroids on large areas of skin can produce side effects such as stretch marks, thinning and reddening of the skin, and the appearance of small blood vessels through the skin.
Steroids are not recommended for application on the face or on areas of the body where the skin folds, such as the armpits, groin, and webs of the toes.
Use of steroid ointments and creams requires good judgment and careful supervision.
Ask the doctor about potency and side effects of prescribed corticosteroid medicines.
Corticosteroid medicines are prescribed for atopic dermatitis to calm the inflamed skin. Avoid combination topical steroid/antifungal cream in the treatment of diaper rash.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
THE MANY FACES OF PSORIASIS
Plaque-type psoriasis is the most common form of the disease and is commonly referred to as psoriasis vulgaris (Camisa 56). Plaque-type psoriasis is characterized by inflamed skin lesions topped with silvery white scales. This type of psoriasis can assume many different appearances based on its location, the activity of the disease, and the treatment being administered. Plaque-type psoriasis is most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, sacrum, umbilicus, intergluteal cleft, and genitalia (Camisa 56).
Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small dot-like lesions. Guttate psoriasis is the most common cause of psoriasis in children and young adults who have a prior history of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis (Camisa 64). The lesions are not as scaly as plaque-type psoriasis and are likely to be found on the trunk and involve the face (Camisa 64).
Pustular psoriasis is characterized by pustules, which are blister-like lesions of non-infectious fluid, and cause intense scaling. Individuals with pustular psoriasis are often among the most seriously ill and may have to be hospitalized (Camisa 67).
Erythrodermic psoriasis is the rarest form of psoriasis and is characterized by intense redness and swelling, exfoliation of dead skin, and pain. Erythrodermic psoriasis usually develops during the course of chronic psoriasis. However, in some cases erythrodermic psoriasis is the first manifestation of psoriasis, even in children (Camisa 74). Individuals with this type of psoriasis may experience chills and low grade fever, and may be rather uncomfortable (Camisa 75).
Inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth inflamed lesions in the body folds -- armpits, under the breast, skin folds of the groin, buttocks, and genitals.
Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis are psoriatic lesions which appear at the site of injury, infection or other skin psoriasis, or may be a new lesion in an existing case.
The degree of psoriasis can also vary from individual to individual. It ranges in severity from mild (affects less than 2% of body) to moderate (affects 2-10% of body) to severe (affects greater than 10% of the body). Skin injury and irritation, sun exposure, diet, stress and anxiety, medications, and infections have been known to make psoriasis worse.
Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small dot-like lesions. Guttate psoriasis is the most common cause of psoriasis in children and young adults who have a prior history of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis (Camisa 64). The lesions are not as scaly as plaque-type psoriasis and are likely to be found on the trunk and involve the face (Camisa 64).
Pustular psoriasis is characterized by pustules, which are blister-like lesions of non-infectious fluid, and cause intense scaling. Individuals with pustular psoriasis are often among the most seriously ill and may have to be hospitalized (Camisa 67).
Erythrodermic psoriasis is the rarest form of psoriasis and is characterized by intense redness and swelling, exfoliation of dead skin, and pain. Erythrodermic psoriasis usually develops during the course of chronic psoriasis. However, in some cases erythrodermic psoriasis is the first manifestation of psoriasis, even in children (Camisa 74). Individuals with this type of psoriasis may experience chills and low grade fever, and may be rather uncomfortable (Camisa 75).
Inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth inflamed lesions in the body folds -- armpits, under the breast, skin folds of the groin, buttocks, and genitals.
Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis are psoriatic lesions which appear at the site of injury, infection or other skin psoriasis, or may be a new lesion in an existing case.
The degree of psoriasis can also vary from individual to individual. It ranges in severity from mild (affects less than 2% of body) to moderate (affects 2-10% of body) to severe (affects greater than 10% of the body). Skin injury and irritation, sun exposure, diet, stress and anxiety, medications, and infections have been known to make psoriasis worse.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
THE PSORIASIS PICTURE
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting over 6 million people in the United States alone(National Psoriasis Foundation).
In the clinical picture, psoriasis can trace its cause to a hyper proliferation of the epidermis, concomitant inflammation, and vascular changes, which occur based on combined genetic and environmental factors (Camisa 7).
Psoriasis occurs equally in men and women and is rarely life threatening (Whitman and McGibbon).
Psoriasis generally begins between the ages of 15 and 35, but it is possible for it to occur very early or very late in life (National Psoriasis Foundation).
A general picture of psoriasis can encompass different stages. Some people may experience limited psoriasis while others may experience more widespread psoriasis (National Psoriasis Foundation).
Psoriasis is characterized by silvery-white scaly patches of various size seen most commonly on the knees, elbows, and scalp (Hall 127). Psoriasis occurs when skin cells mature at an accelerated rate (Nicksin). On a normal basis, skin cells grow, mature, and shed about once a month. Skin cells of a person with psoriasis grow nearly seven times faster and build up at the skin's surface resulting in red, raised, scaly patches and lesions (Nicksin).
Although some sufferers complain of itching, it is not very common in the psoriasis picture. Only 30% of people with psoriasis complain of itching (Hall 132). Development of psoriasis is caused by genetic factors (Mackie 36).
While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, in isolating the cause, you can effect a treatment control of your psoriasis. Lifestyle changes are part of the the whole treatment picture. Controlling the cause can be its own cure!
In the clinical picture, psoriasis can trace its cause to a hyper proliferation of the epidermis, concomitant inflammation, and vascular changes, which occur based on combined genetic and environmental factors (Camisa 7).
Psoriasis occurs equally in men and women and is rarely life threatening (Whitman and McGibbon).
Psoriasis generally begins between the ages of 15 and 35, but it is possible for it to occur very early or very late in life (National Psoriasis Foundation).
A general picture of psoriasis can encompass different stages. Some people may experience limited psoriasis while others may experience more widespread psoriasis (National Psoriasis Foundation).
Psoriasis is characterized by silvery-white scaly patches of various size seen most commonly on the knees, elbows, and scalp (Hall 127). Psoriasis occurs when skin cells mature at an accelerated rate (Nicksin). On a normal basis, skin cells grow, mature, and shed about once a month. Skin cells of a person with psoriasis grow nearly seven times faster and build up at the skin's surface resulting in red, raised, scaly patches and lesions (Nicksin).
Although some sufferers complain of itching, it is not very common in the psoriasis picture. Only 30% of people with psoriasis complain of itching (Hall 132). Development of psoriasis is caused by genetic factors (Mackie 36).
While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, in isolating the cause, you can effect a treatment control of your psoriasis. Lifestyle changes are part of the the whole treatment picture. Controlling the cause can be its own cure!
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