Psoriasis – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Psoriasis (pronounced //; from Greek , meaning "itching condition" or "being itchy",[1]psora "itch" + -sis "action, condition"; also termed psoriasis vulgaris),[2] is a common, chronic immune-mediated skin disease which may also affect the joints.[2]

Psoriasis is characterized by scaly, erythematous (reddened) patches, papules, and plaques which are usually pruritic (itchy).[2] There are five main types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic.[3] The most common form, plaque psoriasis, is commonly seen as red and white hues of scaly patches appearing on the top first layer of the epidermis (skin). Some patients, though, have no dermatological signs or symptoms.[medical citation needed] In plaque psoriasis, skin rapidly accumulates at these sites, which gives it a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area, including the scalp, palms of hands and soles of feet, and genitals. In contrast to eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the outer side of the joint. Fingernails and toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy) and can be seen as an isolated sign. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis. Up to 30% of individuals with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.[4]

The causes of psoriasis are not fully understood. It is generally considered a genetic disease which can be triggered or influenced by environmental factors.[2] Local psoriatic changes can be triggered by an injury to the skin known as the Koebner phenomenon.[5] Various environmental factors have been suggested as aggravating to psoriasis, including oxidative stress,[6]stress, withdrawal of systemic corticosteroid, as well as other environmental factors, but few have shown statistical significance.[7] Psoriasis occurs when the immune system mistakes a normal skin cell for a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that cause overproduction of new skin cells. It is not contagious.[8]

There is no cure,[8] but various treatments can help to control the symptoms.[9][10] There are many treatments available, but because of its chronic recurrent nature, psoriasis is a challenge to treat. Withdrawal of corticosteroids (topical steroid cream) can aggravate the condition due to the 'rebound effect' of corticosteroids.[11]

The disorder is a chronic, recurring condition that varies in severity from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. It occurs in 1-3% of the general population.[8]

Psoriasis is classified as a papulosquamous disorder.[4] It is most commonly classified according to historical morphologic descriptions.[2] Variants include plaque, pustular, guttate, and flexural psoriasis. This section describes each type (with ICD-10 code).[12]

Another classification takes into account genetic and demographic factors. Type 1 has a positive family history, starts before the age of 40 and is associated with the human leukocyte antigen, HLA-Cw6. Conversely, Type 2 does not show a family history, presents before age 40 and is not associated with HLA-Cw6.[13] Type 1 accounts for about 75% of persons with psoriasis.[14]

Psoriasis can also be classified into nonpustular and pustular types as follows.[15]

Pustular psoriasis (L40.13, L40.82) appears as raised bumps that are filled with noninfectious pus (pustules).[17] The skin under and surrounding the pustules is red and tender. Pustular psoriasis can be localised, commonly to the hands and feet (palmoplantar pustulosis), or generalised with widespread patches occurring randomly on any part of the body. Types include:

Additional types of psoriasis include:[18]

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Psoriasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Psoriasis – National Library of Medicine – PubMed Health

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.A.D.A.M.

Psoriasis is very common. Anyone can get it, but it most commonly begins between ages 15 and 35.

You cannot catch psoriasis or spread it to others.

Psoriasis seems to be passed down through families. Doctors think it may be an autoimmune condition. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.

Usually, skin cells grow deep in the skin and rise to the surface about once a month. When you have psoriasis, this process takes place is too fast. Dead skin cells build up on the skin's surface.

The following may trigger an attack of psoriasis or make the condition harder to treat:

Bacteria or viral infections, including strep throat and upper respiratory infections

Dry air or dry skin Injury to the skin, including cuts, burns, and insect bites

Stress

Too little sunlight

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Psoriasis - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

Psoriasis: MedlinePlus – U.S. National Library of Medicine

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. You usually get the patches on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of your body. Some people who have psoriasis also get a form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.

A problem with your immune system causes psoriasis. In a process called cell turnover, skin cells that grow deep in your skin rise to the surface. Normally, this takes a month. In psoriasis, it happens in just days because your cells rise too fast.

Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. Your doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.

Psoriasis can last a long time, even a lifetime. Symptoms come and go. Things that make them worse include

Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It sometimes runs in families. Treatments include creams, medicines, and light therapy.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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Psoriasis: MedlinePlus - U.S. National Library of Medicine

Psoriasis Treatment, Symptoms, Pictures, Types, Prognosis …

Psoriasis Overview

Psoriasis is a common and chronic incurable but treatable skin disorder. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form and appears as elevated plaques of red skin covered with silvery scale that may itch or burn. The involved areas are usually found on the arms, legs, trunk, or scalp but may be found on any part of the skin. The most typical areas are the knees and elbows.

Psoriasis is not contagious but can be inherited. Research indicates that the disease may result from a disorder in the immune system (See Causes).

Factors such as smoking, sunburn, alcoholism, and HIV infection may prolong the severity and extent of the condition.

Approximately 1%-2% of people in the United States, or about 5.5 million, have plaque psoriasis. Up to 30% of people with plaque psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. Individuals with psoriatic arthritis have inflammation in their joints and may have other arthritic symptoms. Sometimes plaque psoriasis can evolve into more inflammatory disease, such as pustular psoriasis or erythrodermic psoriasis. In pustular psoriasis, the red areas on the skin contain small blisters filled with pus. In erythrodermic psoriasis, extensive areas of red and scaling skin are typical.

Psoriasis affects children and adults. Men and woman are affected equally. Females develop plaque psoriasis earlier in life than males. The first peak occurrence of plaque psoriasis is in people 16-22 years of age. The second peak is in people 57-60 years of age.

Psoriasis can affect all races. Studies have shown that more people in western European and Scandinavian populations have psoriasis than those in other population groups.

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Psoriasis Treatment, Symptoms, Pictures, Types, Prognosis ...

Psoriasis | University of Maryland Medical Center

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psoriasis.

Overview:

Causes

Treatment

Outlook

Psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease. Patients with psoriasis have a higher than normal risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and other blood vessel conditions that are also related to inflammation. They should work with their doctors to prevent or manage these problems.

An estimated 7.5 million Americans (2.2% of the population) have psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder in which there are sharply defined red patches on the skin, covered by a silvery, flaky surface. The disease activity may wax and wane over time.

The main disease activity leading to psoriasis occurs in the epidermis, the top five layers of the skin. The process starts in the basal (deepest) layer of the epidermis, where keratinocytes are made. Keratinocytes are immature skin cells that produce keratin, a tough protein that helps form hair, nails, and skin. In normal cell growth, keratinocytes grow and move from the bottom layer to the skin's surface and shed unnoticed. This process takes about a month.

In people with psoriasis, the keratinocytes multiply very rapidly and travel from the basal layer to the surface in about 4 days. The skin cannot shed these cells quickly enough, so they build up, leading to thick, dry patches, or plaques. Silvery, flaky areas of dead skin build up on the surface of the plaques they are shed. The skin layer underneath (dermis), which contains the nerves and blood and lymphatic vessels, becomes red and swollen.

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Psoriasis | University of Maryland Medical Center

Psoriasis Free Forever Review | How This Program Helps People Treat The Root Causes Of Their Psoriasis Symptoms …

Seattle, Wa (PRWEB) December 18, 2013

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease that may also affect the joints. It causes cells to build up quickly on the surface of the skin. Psoriasis Free Forever is a new solution for those people who want to relieve their psoriasis symptoms such as itching, burning, soreness, red patches of skin covered with silvery scales, and small scaling spots. This program is developed by Robert Adams, a health consultant, and medical researcher who has over 11 years of experience in teaching other people how to treat swollen and stiff joints, dry and cracked skin, and pitted and ridged nails. Since Robert Adams released the Psoriasis Free Forever program, a lot of clients used it to learn how to cure their yeast infection symptoms, and how to prevent yeast infection related diseases and conditions. Accordingly, Mercy Adamson from the website HealthReviewCenter.com performed a detailed review about the effectiveness of this program.

A detailed review of Psoriasis Free Forever on the site HealthReviewCenter.com indicates that this program provides people with tips to slow down their skin aging process. The program also covers natural remedies for yeast infection, vaginal trush, leaky gut syndrome and jock itch. In addition, in this program, people will discover easy ways to treat the root causes of their psoriasis symptoms, and simple ways to eliminate their dry skin forever and stop the never-ending itching. Moreover, when ordering this program, people will receive a lot of instruction books from Robert Adams. Firstly, people will have the Simple Weight Loss Recipes book that teaches them how to prepare simple and healthy meals for great results in fitness. The book also covers an avocado recipe, an oat recipe, a salmon recipe, a black bean recipe, and healthy meal basics. Secondly, Robert will provide people with the Natural Herbs 101 book that instructs them how to plant, grow, and cook with natural herbs. In this book, people will learn how to choose the herbs they need, how to dry herbs, and how to make rubs and spice blends. Thirdly, people will receive the Appetite Antidote book, and the Complete Coconut Oil book. Finally, people will get the Psoriasis Free Forever book that can help them get rid of their psoriasis naturally, easily and permanently.

Mercy Adamson from the site HealthReviewCenter.com says: In this program, people will find out recipes for removing the built-up toxins from their body, and recipes to supercharge their immune system quickly. The program also covers tips and tricks for detoxing or purifying their blood, kidneys, colon and liver. In addition, in this program, people will learn how to grow thicker shiny hair and stronger nails, and how to eliminate foggy thinking.

If people wish to view pros and cons from a full Psoriasis Free Forever review, they could visit the website: http://healthreviewcenter.com/health/psoriasis-free-forever-review/.

To know more information about this program, get a direct access to the official site.

__________________ About Mercy Adamson: Mercy Adamson is an editor of the website HealthReviewCenter.com. In this website, Mercy Adamson provides people with reliable reviews about new psoriasis treatment methods. People could send their feedback to Mercy Adamson on any digital product via email.

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Psoriasis Free Forever Review | How This Program Helps People Treat The Root Causes Of Their Psoriasis Symptoms ...

Skin conditions leave emotional scars

Skin is the largest and most visible organ in the body. Just as clear, glowing and unblemished skin elicits praise and attention, skin problems can provoke the reverse, with sufferers feeling shunned or judged by their appearance. No wonder conditions such as acne and psoriasis have been linked with depression and anxiety.

There's no denying that skin diseases can be ugly, itchy and confronting and the social stigma surrounding flawed skin still seems only just a step away from during the Middle Ages, when lepers were shunned and forced to don bells to warn of their approach.

The burden of having a skin condition remains heavy, regardless of age, gender or social status and, collectively, skin disease is the fourth greatest cause of the non-fatal global health burden.

Experts say it's time society realised the enormity of living with a skin problem and helped alleviate the physical and emotional toll by extending the afflicted and their carers a helping hand.

Three skin conditions - acne, fungal skin diseases, other skin and subcutaneous diseases - were in the top 10 most prevalent diseases worldwide in 2010, according to an analysis of their prevalence and impact, published in theJournal of Investigative Dermatology.

''Using more data than has been used previously, the burden due to these diseases is enormous in both high and low-income countries,'' say the study's authors.

''These results argue strongly to include skin disease prevention and treatment in future global health strategies as a matter of urgency.''

There are measures people can take to prevent sun damage, burns, cuts and rashes, but despite our best efforts to try to protect the body's largest organ, some damaging, life-changing skin conditions can't be cured.

Dermatologists say the stress on patients and their families of managing some skin conditions and the associated physical, psychological and social impact on their lives is huge.

Psoriasis patients have a 39 per cent increased risk of depression. Those with it in severe form have a 77 per cent increased risk and are at increased risk of anxiety and suicide, says the Australian National Psoriasis Foundation.

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Skin conditions leave emotional scars

Why Jews With Psoriasis Might Think Twice About Seeking Treatment in Jordan

Bathing in Dead Sea Is More Complicated Than It Appears

Isi Tenenbom

Bathing For Peace: Tuvia Tenenbom takes the waters in the Dead Sea.

Years ago, Germans, quite many of them, in fact, would fly from their homeland to the Dead Sea in Israel in order to bathe in the world-famous salty waters. Some did it for recreation, others for fitness, and still others to cure themselves of psoriasis.

All was fine and dandy until one day the owner of a big German travel agency who made her living from the government-sponsored health insurance that paid for her flying clients, started having second thoughts. Raised to be a do-gooder German, she felt it was morally wrong for Israeli Jews to make profits off Germans. She thought about it through and through, until a really great idea came to her mind: Replace the Jews with non-Jews. And so, before long she contacted a Jordanian man she knew and, so goes the story, said thusly unto him: If you build a hotel on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, I will divert the tourists from Israel to Jordan.

Within a short time, the man, who happened to be a smart businessman, decided to indeed build the hotel. He called it the Dead Sea Hotel and today I, the best German there is, am staying here.

But, I hate politics and love medicines, and on my second morning in the area I made it my business to meet Dr. Zuhair Bisharat, the head dermatologist of the hotel, in order to discuss how a sea can cure a disease.

Germans are the best, he told me as I sat in his office, his eyes shining like those of a child.

In what way are they the best? I asked him.

Science, punctuality and they also are the strongest in economy.

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Why Jews With Psoriasis Might Think Twice About Seeking Treatment in Jordan