WHAT IS PLAQUE PSORIASIS ?

Plaque psoriasis may result from an imbalance in the immune system in which the white blood cells that protect the body from infection abnormally trigger a reactive inflammation in the skin. This abnormal reaction will also cause skin cells to grow faster than normal and to pile up in raised patches on the outer surface of the skin creating the raised plaque.

The Picture of Psoriasis

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.

A general picture of psoriasis can encompass different stages. Some people may experience limited psoriasis while others may experience more widespread psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting over 6 million people in the United States alone. Psoriasis occurs equally in men and women and is rarely life threatening. 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.

Psoriasis is characterized by silvery-white scaly patches of various size seen most commonly on the knees, elbows, and scalp. Psoriasis occurs when skin cells mature at an accelerated rate. 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.
Although some sufferers complain of itching, it is not very common in the psoriasis picture. Only 30% of people with psoriasis complain of itching. Development of psoriasis is caused by genetic factors.

While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, in isolating the cause, you can achieve an effective treatment control of your psoriasis. Lifestyle changes are part of the the whole treatment picture. Controlling the cause can be its own cure! Psoriasis-Ltd can help.

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 affected skin may 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.

New skin cells take about a month or so to move from the deepest skin layer where they're produced, to the surface where they die and flake off. With psoriasis, the entire skin cell life cycle takes only days leading to an accumulation on the skin surface causing irritation, itching and redness.

People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then improves. Conditions that may cause flareups 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.