Category Archives: Psoriasis

OverviewPsoriasis causes patches of red, scaly skin. It happens because your body has an overactive immune system. What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in your skin. Symptoms of psoriasis include thick areas of discolored skin covered with scales. These thick, scaly areas are called plaques.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition, which means it can flare up unexpectedly and theres no cure.

There are several types of psoriasis, including:

A psoriasis rash can show up anywhere on your skin. Psoriasis is common on your:

In most people, psoriasis covers a small area of their skin. In severe cases, the plaques connect and cover a large area of your body.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that causes joint pain and swelling. Similar to psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to function abnormally and cause symptoms. About 1 in 3 people diagnosed with psoriasis will also develop arthritis due to inflammation. Early treatment of psoriatic arthritis can reduce damage to your joints.

People of any age, sex or race can get psoriasis. Psoriasis affects millions of people. More than 3% of the U.S. population has psoriasis.

Psoriasis and eczema are two different skin conditions. Both conditions cause similar symptoms like discolored skin, a rash and itching. Psoriasis plaques cause areas of thick skin covered in scales. Eczema causes a rash of dry and bumpy skin. Eczema also typically causes more intense itching than psoriasis.

Symptoms of psoriasis on your skin include plaques. Plaques look like:

An early sign of psoriasis is small bumps. The bumps grow, and scales form on top. The surface of the plaque might shed, but the scales beneath them will stick together. If you scratch your rash, the scales may tear away from your skin. This can cause bleeding. As the rash continues to grow, lesions (larger areas of skin damage) can form. Symptoms of psoriasis can range from mild to severe.

In addition to skin plaques or a rash, you might have symptoms that include:

If you scratch your plaque, you could break open your skin, which could lead to an infection. Infections are dangerous. If you experience severe pain, swelling and a fever, you have symptoms of an infection. Contact your healthcare provider if you have these symptoms.

An over-reactive immune system that creates inflammation in your skin causes psoriasis.

If you have psoriasis, your immune system is supposed to destroy foreign invaders, like bacteria, to keep you healthy and prevent you from getting sick. Instead, your immune system can mistake healthy cells for foreign invaders. As a result, your immune system creates inflammation or swelling, which you see on the surface of your skin as skin plaques.

It usually takes up to 30 days for new skin cells to grow and replace old skin cells. Your over-reactive immune system causes the timeline of new skin cell development to change to three to four days. The speed of new cells replacing old cells creates scales and frequent skin shedding on top of skin plaques.

Psoriasis runs in families. There may be a genetic component to psoriasis because biological parents may pass the condition down to their children.

An outbreak of psoriasis, or a flare up, causes symptoms of psoriasis as a result of contact with a trigger, which could be an irritant or an allergen. Psoriasis outbreaks differ from person to person. Common triggers for psoriasis flare ups include:

No, psoriasis isnt contagious. You cant get psoriasis by coming into contact with another persons psoriasis skin rash.

A healthcare provider or a dermatologist will diagnose psoriasis after a physical exam to look at your skin and review your symptoms. Theyll ask you questions that could include:

The appearance of a skin plaque leads to a psoriasis diagnosis, but symptoms can relate to other similar skin conditions, so your provider might offer a skin biopsy test to confirm your diagnosis. During this test, your provider will remove a small sample of skin tissue from your skin plaque and examine it under a microscope.

Several treatment options can relieve psoriasis symptoms. Common psoriasis treatments include:

Creams or ointments may be enough to improve the rash in small areas of your skin. If your rash affects larger areas, or if you also have joint pain, youll need other treatments. Joint pain may be a sign that you have arthritis.

Your provider will decide on a treatment plan based on:

If your symptoms of psoriasis dont improve after treatment, or if you have large areas of involvement (10% of your skin or more), your healthcare provider may recommend the following treatments:

Before starting treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects and mention any medications or supplements you currently take to avoid drug interaction.

For some people diagnosed with psoriasis, the skin condition causes more than itchiness, scaling skin and skin discoloration. It can lead to swollen joints and arthritis. If you have psoriasis, you may be at higher risk of:

If you have psoriasis, your provider will do regular blood pressure checks and monitor the progress of your treatment to avoid complications. You can take steps to prevent potential complications by:

A flare-up of psoriasis symptoms can last a couple of weeks to a few months. Your healthcare provider can speed up your skins recovery with certain medications. After your symptoms go away, your psoriasis is in remission. This means that you could have another outbreak of symptoms in the future. Your remission timeline could last a few months to a couple of years. If you notice your symptoms flare up when you contact certain triggers, avoiding those triggers leads to a long remission time.

There isnt a way to entirely prevent psoriasis. You can reduce your risk by following your healthcare providers treatment, living a healthy lifestyle, taking good care of your skin and avoiding triggers that can cause an outbreak of symptoms.

If you have psoriasis, its common to see symptoms show up during early adulthood, but the timeline of when symptoms begin is unique to every person. You may notice certain triggers in your environment that can cause a flare up of symptoms. Avoiding these triggers can lead to fewer outbreaks in the future.

Psoriasis can make you uncomfortable, itchy and self-conscious. If these symptoms are causing you physical or emotional distress, contact your healthcare provider for treatment.

There isnt a cure for psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic condition, which means that symptoms may come and go throughout your life. Treatment can relieve symptoms so you can look and feel your best.

To feel your best with psoriasis:

Other steps you should take to stay as healthy as possible:

Do regular skin self-exams to notice any changes in your skin. If you have skin changes, a rash thats not going away or a rash that gets worse, contact your healthcare provider.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Psoriasis, an itchy skin condition, can come and go throughout your life. Its related to an overactive immune response and isnt contagious. If you have skin changes that arent going away, talk to your healthcare provider. There isnt a cure for psoriasis, but psoriasis treatments can improve symptoms. Your provider may prescribe a special cream or moisturizer or medications. Other therapies are available if creams or medicines dont work. Maintaining your overall health will also help improve symptoms.

Read the rest here:
Psoriasis: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes, Types & Treatment

P

soriasis is estimated to affect two in 100 people in the UK.

While its a physiological ailment, many patients say that it has a significant impact on their lives and, thus, mental health.

So, what is psoriasis, how is it treated and which foods help ease its symptoms?

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin condition that causes flaky patches of skin that can sometimes be itchy or sore, according to the NHS. These flaky skin patches then form scales on the body.

The colour of the skin patches differs; they can be pink, red, purple or dark brown. Similarly, the scales formed from flaky skin can be white, silvery, or grey.

The ailment impacts men and women equally and, while it can start at any age, adults aged between 20 and 30 and those between 50 and 60 are often more susceptible.

Patients have reported that their psoriasis either started or became worse after a trigger event in their lives, such a skin injury, the use of certain medicines or throat infections.

The condition has also been linked to an increased production of skin cells. While a healthy body will make and replace skin cells every three to four weeks, those with psoriasis do this in three to seven days, causing a build-up of skin cells. This build-up creates the flaky patches.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes flaky skin

Health experts still dont understand what causes the increased production of cells. However, some think it might be linked to a problem with the immune system.

The immune system, which is the bodys defence against infections and diseases, can start to attack healthy parts of the body by mistake when it is ailed.

Psoriasis has been seen to run in families, although the link between genetics and the skin condition remains unclear.

How is psoriasis treated?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are treatments that can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.

Topical treatments using creams and ointments are a common medical approach.

If these fail to help, or a patient has severe psoriasis, phototherapy, where types of UV light are exposed to the skin, may be used.

In very severe cases that dont respond to topical treatments or phototherapy, oral or injected medicines are used.

Lifestyle changes, such as your diet, are generally recommended as an everyday method of improving your symptoms.

Which foods help ease psoriasis symptoms?

Many psoriasis experts suggest that adopting an anti-inflammatory diet will help ease the symptoms of psoriasis.

While no diet will cure the condition, certain foods are known to help reduce inflammation. And having a balanced and healthy diet will support the overall wellbeing of your immune system, which also helps.

Anti-inflammatory foods such as berries can reduce inflammation

Americas National Psoriasis Foundation shares that some anti-inflammatory foods that may help are olive oil, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna, and fruits such as berries, cherries and oranges.

Some studies have shown that the byproducts of an acid named arachidonic acid may also increase psoriasis patches. These acids are found in red meat, especially beef, and eggs.

Those who suffer from psoriasis may also want to check if they have a gluten allergy as this will trigger an autoimmune response that may worsen psoriasis symptoms.

People who are allergic to gluten should avoid grains, pasta, beer, certain processed foods and sauces, and baked goods that contain grains.

It is also said to be wise to generally avoid processed foods, canned fruits and vegetables, and foods high in sugar, salt or fat as they can cause chronic inflammation in the body.

Lastly, alcohol is thought to be a psoriasis trigger because of the way it negatively impacts the immune system. Thus, psoriasis patients are advised to avoid it or at least consume it very sparingly.

Originally posted here:
What is psoriasis and which foods ease symptoms? - Evening Standard

Chronic inflammatory diseases: what they are and what they lead to

Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis, result in daily management of painful or disabling symptoms, impair patients quality of life, are a risk factor for the development of comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and weigh on the lives of families, with major socioeconomic repercussions.

In recent years, attention to these diseases has increased, while Research has made enormous progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic inflammation and has led to the development of therapeutic options that can intervene in the inflammatory process.

The underlying mechanism of these diseases is inflammation, which must be evaluated by considering both the causes, including environmental ones, and the consequences on the whole organism, according to an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that privileges the continuity and interrelationships among different chronic inflammatory diseases.

Inflammation is a nonspecific innate defense mechanism, which is a protective response of the organism to the action of a damage operated by a foreign agent to eliminate the initial cause of cellular or tissue damage and the initiation of the reparative process inflammatory cells peculiar to innate immunity, such as macrophages, neutrophils begin to produce cytokines in response to a stimulus that can be infectious, chemical, non-infectious.

When acute inflammation does not resolve, chronic inflammation takes over, which consists of a long-lasting inflammatory process in which active inflammation, tissue destruction, and attempts at repair coexist.

Among the determinants of inflammation, attention has grown in recent years to the role played by the microbiota, the diverse set of microorganisms that live in symbiosis with us, in the gut but also in all surfaces exposed to the external environment.

A variation in the gut microbiota can result in inflammation that tends to spread from the gut to other organs.

A recent study carried out by Humanitas and published in the journal Science shows that in cases of ulcerative colitis, in order to prevent the spread of severe intestinal inflammation, the brain closes a kind of gate located in the choroid plexus, resulting in states of anxiety-like state and depression.

Effects often seen in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

There are more than 250,000 people living with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases in Italy, of whom about 60 percent have ulcerative colitis and the remaining 40 percent have Crohns disease.

These diseases, which are rapidly increasing in countries with advanced economies, manifest themselves mainly with diarrhea, often accompanied by traces of blood, abdominal pain, vomiting, asthenia, fever, and are characterized by alternating periods of flare-ups and periods of remission.

Up to 40% of patients with Crohns disease may undergo bowel resection within 10 years, and up to 20% of patients with ulcerative colitis may undergo colectomy within 10 years.

In more than 40% of cases, chronic inflammatory bowel disease is accompanied by associated extraintestinal immune-mediated manifestations.

Up to 30% of patients may have arthritis, 10% immune-mediated skin manifestations, and 5-6% biliary tract and liver inflammation.

Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach cannot be disregarded, leading to better outcomes in the detection of any associated extraintestinal manifestations, but also in their management.

The goal of therapy remains prolonged remission over time, which means absence of symptoms, both those directly reported by the patient and in terms of the anatomy of the disease, i.e., restoration of the normal integrity of the intestinal mucosa, without diarrhea and without bleeding.

One of the tools increasingly considered to induce remission is surgery, which for some patients with MICI is the best option.

By now, surgery is no longer considered as the only option, the last resort after exhausting the available options, when the patient was completely defecated by disease symptoms and non-response and immunosuppressed by medical therapies, with inevitable bad results.

Today, thanks in part to the multidisciplinary approach to chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which brings together the expertise of gastroenterologists and surgeons, surgery, which is increasingly less invasive, is a weapon that can be used at any point in the treatment pathway, depending on the needs of the individual patient.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by its impact on quality of life: deformities and joint pain, if not adequately treated, can affect the patients ability to perform normal daily activities and limit work opportunities, even to the point of hindering the performance of household and family tasks.

The advent of new treatment options, however, has altered a course that until a few years ago seemed inescapable.

For patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis today, there is a lot of good news: the most important element is that today the patients pathway does not lead to the deformities that can be seen on the web, thanks to biologic drugs and small molecules that are able to stop inflammation and thus disease progression and have collapsed the curve of surgeries to resolve these deformities.

But there are other positive notes as well: diagnoses are much earlier, thanks to increased knowledge and new diagnostic technologies; cortisone is used much less than in the past, sparing patients the medium- and long-term side effects; and patients of childbearing age can now plan a successful pregnancy by agreeing on the timing and synchronizing therapies so that they are not harmful to the fetus.

Inflammatory mechanisms, along with triggers such as infections, stress, and alterations in the microbiota, are at the root of immune-mediated skin diseases such as psoriasis, which affects about 2 million people in Italy, and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis is a systemic disease in which the inflammatory process affects not only the skin, but also other districts and organs.

Especially at a young age, this disease is associated with an increased risk of acute cardiovascular events, and in 20-30% of cases patients with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis.

In addition, subclinical intestinal inflammation can be found in patients with psoriasis, especially in the moderate-severe form, and 3% of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease also have psoriasis.

The link between intestinal and skin inflammatory processes is proven, and it is therefore essential that patients with immune-mediated diseases are evaluated from multiple perspectives and taken care of by a multidisciplinary team deputed to coordinate therapy and follow-up.

The professional medical figures who normally follow patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are the dermatologist and rheumatologist, but we also deal with the gastroenterologist, to significantly improve inflammation in the patient with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, thanks to combined therapies, which affect multiple areas by acting on a fundamental mechanism of pathogenic inflammation.

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Humanitas

Link:
Chronic inflammatory diseases: what they are - Emergency Live International

In the latest in our new series on improving care for people with long-term health conditions, Dods Impact and AbbVie explore how the use of digital images for skin legions can deliver a step change in treatment for inflammatory skin conditions

Inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema can have a profound and debilitating impact on people of all ages. They are also a major issue for NHS capacity. Ask any practicing GP, and they will tell you that skin conditions account for up to a third of all appointments.

Living with an inflammatory skin condition can also have serious consequences for mental as well as physical health. In a recent survey by the APPG on Skin, 93% of respondents said that their skin condition impacted on their self-esteem, 5% reported that they had even contemplated suicide.

Chair of the APPG Sir Edward Leigh, who himself suffers from rosacea, is concerned that the pandemic has had a profound impact on those living with inflammatory skin conditions.

The waiting time for patients with long-term skin conditions to see a secondary care specialist has been growing for years, he tells us. This has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Dominic Urmston, from the Psoriasis Association shares Leighs concerns. He has heard from many patients who have had their treatments disrupted.

During the pandemic many people with inflammatory skin conditions saw face-to-face appointments either changed to remote consultations or cancelled altogether, he explains. This has led to an appointment backlog and increased waiting times for specialist care, with many people seeing their symptoms worsen in the meantime.

Urmstons experience has now been backed up by a recent report, commissioned and funded by biopharmaceutical company AbbVie and carried out by health research consultancy Carnell Farrar.

The report highlights the impact of the pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It reports that during the first year of the pandemic first outpatient attendances for dermatology plummeted by 28%, while elective hospital admissions for psoriasis alone fell by the same number.This is one of the largest falls seen within any patient group. As a result, while we know around 300,000 patients are currently on the routine waiting list, the overall backlog of patients could be much higher one hypothecated model by Carnall Farrar suggests over 900,000 patients were unaccounted for during the first 18 months of the pandemic and are potentially still in need of care.*

Appointment levels are now slowly recovering, Todd Manning, General Manager at AbbVie, but even if they reach pre-pandemic levels that alone will not come close to clearing the backlog created by the pandemic unless new ways can be found to increase capacity within the system to allow more patients to be seen when they need it. All sectors and organisations need to work collaboratively and creatively to find new ways to reach and care for those with inflammatory skin conditions.

There is however a strong foundation for developing new approaches. Dr Julia Schofield, Dermatology Clinical Lead for NHS England, told us that technology is already playing an important role in delivering better care to those with serious skin conditions.

The NHS is transforming dermatologyoutpatientservicestoensure that patientshavebetter access to specialistcare that works for them, she explains. Bymaking better use of technologysuch asdigital images, we are reducing the need for unnecessary face-to-face appointments,and are giving patients the freedom tobook outpatient appointments when they need them to ensure care is responsive to their individual condition.

The use of digital images for the assessment of people, particularly with skin lesions, is already making a difference. Dr Schofield explained that it is helping to reduce the number of people that need to attend hospitals and freeing up capacity for those people, usually with inflammatory skin diseases, that need to be seen face to face in dermatology clinics. As a result there are growing calls for a further acceleration in the rollout of these new approaches and other digitally enabled solutions that support out of hospital care and patient self-management to further reduce capacity pressures.

Bymaking better use of technologysuch asdigital images, we are reducing the need for unnecessary face-to-face appointments,and are giving patients the freedom tobook outpatient appointments when they need them to ensure care is responsive to their individual condition.

Some waiting times are now quoted in years, not months, Sir Edward Leigh tells us. New ways of working will have to be trialled and adopted to improve this intolerable situation.

Todd Manning also believes that the new ways of working that Schofield advocates should be must now be prioritised for adoption.

Covid saw a massive increase in telephone appointments, but for inflammatory skin diseases diagnosis over the telephone is highly challenging, he explains. The use of digital technology is about enabling how the whole system can work more efficiently. Effectivesharing of information, particularly between primary and secondary care providers is key. The Carnall Farrar research shows that better use of digital imagery to support the two week wait cancer referral process could save up to48,000 consultant hours that could be released to increase capacity for eczema and other dermatology cases, reducing anxiety for patients.

Delivering these benefits will require shifts in how Integrated Care Boards commission dermatology services, more support and education for frontline staff across a patients treatment journey to help them understand and deliver new care pathways, and investment in new technologies. This was a recommendation emerging from a recent parliamentary roundtable on the issue chaired by Sir Edward Leigh, alongside the need for more national leadership and accountability to help drive this change.

However, the prize on offer is substantial. The increased use of digital and remote care solutions could lead to speedier diagnoses, better patient outcomes, and more effective use of healthcare resources. Not only will this benefit the millions of people in Englandliving with inflammatory skin conditions, it will also benefit the NHS as a whole - a prize well worth securing.

How Teledermatology is Improving Cancer Care for Patients in Leeds

One of the ways that new technologies can help patients and speed up processes for GPs and consultants is by enabling diagnosis to take place quickly and without the need for an outpatient appointment.

In Leeds, a project has been looking at ways to deliver fastand accurate diagnoses around lesions that might indicate skin cancers. The scheme began when a consultant dermatologist realised that a third of all patients referred to consultants were ultimately discharged without any clinical intervention.

He realised that if new technology could be used to move these patients through the system more quickly that would reduce anxiety and save time and money for health providers.

Until the new system was put into place, each of these patients would have had to attend a face-to-face appointment. Not only did that lead to anxiety and concern, but it also created pressure on the secondary care system.

The solution that has been put in place to achieve this is a specialist magnifying device that is used with a smartphone. This system is now used by every GP practice in Leeds.

At the initial appointment GPs, with patient consent, take three pictures of any concerning skin lesion. These are then sent securely to the consultants at Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust. Within 48 hours those consultants report back, either confirming the lesion is benign or inviting the patient in for a face-to-face appointment.

The new system is faster, more efficient, and more effective than the traditional way of working. It has reduced anxiety for patients, relieved pressure on the 2 week wait pathway, and freed up the capacity of dermatology consultants.

This case study is not connected to AbbVie in any way

This article and the Carnall Farrar report has been commissioned and funded by AbbVie. This article is intended for the general public.Date of Preparation: September 2022 Job No: UK-ABBV-220308

*HES data Mar 19 Nov 21. Backlog calculated from accumulated month on month deficit in observed outpatient appointments compared to average month in year prior to COVID (Mar 19 Feb 20) assuming demographic growth of 3%. 90% of missed activity assumed to flow into backlog. No seasonality and no further disruption assumed

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How remote care can deliver a step change in treatment for inflammatory skin conditions - PoliticsHome

Supplementation with probiotics was shown to improve hyperuricemia and symptoms of gout, among other inflammatory diseases such as juvenile arthritis (JIA), osteoarthritis (OA), osteoporosis and osteopenia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriasis (PsO). Investigators note that further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary to evaluate efficacy and optimal dosages of probiotics, according to a study published in Frontiers in Immunology.1

There is a need for new related target therapeutic approaches for drug development and treatment of joint inflammation, thereby reducing the disease burden of inflammatory arthritis, investigators stated. A study showed that gut microbial dysbiosis (in combination with environmental triggers) may contribute to inflammatory immune disturbances in inflammatory arthritis in combination with genetically predisposed individuals.

Information on the treatment of rheumatic diseases with probiotics was obtained via databases in this systematic review, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, until May 2022. RCTs of probiotics regarding treatment of hyperuricemia and gout were evaluated and the Cochrane risk assessment tool was used to determine quality evaluation. Controls were participants without probiotic preparation. Adverse events, disease efficacy indicators, and inflammatory indicators were the primary outcomes.

In total, 37 records included in the study, of which 34 were RCTs and 8 types of autoimmune disease were analyzed. Of the 10 RCTs (involving 632 participants), probiotic intervention reduced C-reactive protein (CRP). Of the psoriasis RCTs, probiotics reduced Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores. Patients with spondyloarthritis who received probiotics had improvements in disease-related symptoms. Bone mineral density was improved in patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia receiving probiotic intervention and symptoms were improved in patients with OA (433 participants). Symptoms were also improved in patients with JIA (72 participants) and IBD (120 participants). Lastly, serum uric acid was improved in those with hyperuricemia and gout in 4 RCTs (294 participants). Probiotics did not increase the incidence of adverse events in any of the RCTs included in the analysis.

While the study was strengthened by including 8 types of inflammatory arthritis, providing clinical references, the quality of the RCTs involved is hindered by the lack of detailed random sequence generation, blinding information, and allocation concealment. Further, certain RCTs used probiotic-rich foods in their analyses, which not include specific strains and doses, while others had uncertain dosages, which allowed for discrepancies among results. Additionally, the methods of recording efficacy indicators were different among RCTs. Adverse events were not reported in many RCTs evaluated. Lastly, only 8 types of inflammatory arthritis were observed, possibly due in part to the fact that probiotics have just recently emerged as a supplementation option in this patient population.

Probiotic supplements may improve hyperuricemia and gout, inflammatory bowel disease arthritis, JIA, OA, Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, psoriasis, RA, and spondyloarthritis, investigators emphasized. However, lack of evidence and heterogeneity of studies do not allow us to recommend them to patients with inflammatory arthritis to manage their disease. More randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to determine the efficacy and optimal dosing design of probiotics.

Reference:

Zeng L, Deng Y, He Q, et al. Safety and efficacy of probiotic supplementation in 8 types of inflammatory arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials.Front Immunol. 2022;13:961325. Published 2022 Sep 23. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.961325

Read more:
Probiotics Supplementation may Improve Symptoms of Hyperuricemia and Gout - Rheumatology Network

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Adriana Rendonet al. Int J Mol Sci. 2019.

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Research on psoriasis pathogenesis has largely increased knowledge on skin biology in general. In the past 15 years, breakthroughs in the understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis have been translated into targeted and highly effective therapies providing fundamental insights into the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases with a dominant IL-23/Th17 axis. This review discusses the mechanisms involved in the initiation and development of the disease, as well as the therapeutic options that have arisen from the dissection of the inflammatory psoriatic pathways. Our discussion begins by addressing the inflammatory pathways and key cell types initiating and perpetuating psoriatic inflammation. Next, we describe the role of genetics, associated epigenetic mechanisms, and the interaction of the skin flora in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. Finally, we include a comprehensive review of well-established widely available therapies and novel targeted drugs.

Keywords: chronic skin disease; inflammation; psoriasis.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figure 1

Clinical manifestations of psoriasis. (

Figure 1

Clinical manifestations of psoriasis. ( A , B ) Psoriasis vulgaris presents with

Clinical manifestations of psoriasis. (A,B) Psoriasis vulgaris presents with erythematous scaly plaques on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the limbs. (C) Generalized pustular psoriasis. (D) Pustular psoriasis localized to the soles of the feet. This variant typically affects the palms of the hands as well; hence, psoriasis pustulosa palmoplantaris. (E,F) Inverse psoriasis affects the folds of the skin (i.e., axillary, intergluteal, inframammary, and genital involvement).

Figure 1

Clinical manifestations of psoriasis. (

Figure 1

Clinical manifestations of psoriasis. ( A , B ) Psoriasis vulgaris presents with

Clinical manifestations of psoriasis. (A,B) Psoriasis vulgaris presents with erythematous scaly plaques on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the limbs. (C) Generalized pustular psoriasis. (D) Pustular psoriasis localized to the soles of the feet. This variant typically affects the palms of the hands as well; hence, psoriasis pustulosa palmoplantaris. (E,F) Inverse psoriasis affects the folds of the skin (i.e., axillary, intergluteal, inframammary, and genital involvement).

Erythrodermic psoriasis.

Figure 3

Onycholysis and oil drop changes

Figure 3

Onycholysis and oil drop changes on psoriatic nail involvement.

Onycholysis and oil drop changes on psoriatic nail involvement.

Figure 4

Histopathology of psoriasis. ( A

Figure 4

Histopathology of psoriasis. ( A ) Psoriasis vulgaris characteristically shows acanthosis, parakeratosis, and

Histopathology of psoriasis. (A) Psoriasis vulgaris characteristically shows acanthosis, parakeratosis, and dermal inflammatory infiltrates. (B) In pustular psoriasis, acanthotic changes are accompanied by epidermal predominantly neutrophilic infiltrates, which cause pustule formation.

Figure 5

The pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Figure 5

The pathogenesis of psoriasis.

The pathogenesis of psoriasis.

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Lu YW, Chen YJ, Shi N, Yang LH, Wang HM, Dong RJ, Kuang YQ, Li YY. Lu YW, et al. Front Immunol. 2022 Sep 12;13:971071. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.971071. eCollection 2022. Front Immunol. 2022. PMID: 36172384 Free PMC article.

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Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment - PubMed

It sounds plausible: If psoriasis is causing dry, scaly patches on your skin, couldnt drinking more water hydrating from the inside out improve symptoms or prevent a flare?

Dermatologists arent buying it.

Yes, psoriatic skin has hydration issues. Because the skin barrier in psoriasis is abnormal, you can lose water through the skin, saysSteven Feldman, MD, PhD, a dermatologist who specializes in psoriasis treatment at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Applying moisturizer to damp skin, he says, is important for hydrating psoriasis plaques.

But drinking water is a different kind of hydrating, Dr. Feldman says. There isnt any evidence that we know of that suggests drinking more water improves psoriasis.

By the way, there isnt much research to indicate that drinking extra water has any impact on skin hydration or appearance in individuals with healthy skin either, according to Mayo Clinic.

Certainly staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is good for overall health, whether a person has psoriasis or not. Your cells, tissues, and organs need water to function properly its a key component in the regulation of body temperature and the removal of waste from the body, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

TheU.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that women need about 11.5 cups of fluid a day and men need about 15.5 cups per day. That recommendation covers fluids obtained from water, other beverages, and food about 20 percent of daily fluid intake comes in the form of what you eat, not what you drink. If your urine is colorless or light yellow and you rarely feel thirsty, thats an indication that youre hydrating appropriately.

People with psoriasis can follow the same hydration guidelines as everyone else, says Feldman. They dont need to drink more water because of their condition, and there isnt any evidence that drinking more will improve psoriasis symptoms or prevent flares, he says.

RELATED: Hydration Calendar: How Much Water Do You Need to Drink a Day?

Topical ointments with vitamin D are sometimes used to treat psoriasis, but there isnt strong evidence to indicate that drinks fortified with vitamin D can help with psoriasis symptoms, according to theNational Psoriasis Foundation.

But people with psoriasis often have lower than normal levels of vitamin D, says the Mayo Clinic, a problem that can worsen as hours of daylight wane in the fall and winter. (Skin naturally produces vitamin D in response to sunlight.) Vitamin D is important to overall health for a host of reasons, including helping the body absorb calcium to build bone and maintaining immune function, says the National Institutes of Health.

If you do want to up your vitamin D intake through beverages, milk and orange juice fortified with vitamin D are good sources. Talk with your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements: Too much can be harmful.

Note: For people with psoriasis who are lactose intolerant or otherwise have trouble digesting dairy products, milk can be problematic because it can irritate the gut, worsening inflammation throughout the body. In some cases, people with psoriasis who cut out dairy see an improvement in their skin symptoms, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Currently there isnt any evidence that antioxidants in black, green, or herbal teas will improve psoriasis symptoms, says Feldman.

Although laboratory studies suggest that antioxidants may be beneficial in lowering inflammation, the high amounts that a person would need to consume make it unlikely that antioxidants in ones diet would have any effect on psoriasis, according to a paper published in February 2021 in the journalAntioxidants.

Still, its worth remembering that people with psoriasis are at higher risk of heart disease and stroke. The antioxidants in tea can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, including the cardiovascular system, helping protect the heart and brain.

Drinking too much alcohol isnt a good idea it probably has a direct effect on psoriasis, says Feldman.

There isnt a lot of research on how drinking alcohol may impact psoriasis, but there is evidence to suggest that alcohol consumption may increase the risk of developing psoriasis and may worsen inflammation in people who already have the disease. This appears to be due at least in part to alcohols harmful effect on the gut microbiome.

Another concern is that high-calorie beverages like alcohol, juice, and sugary drinks like soda can contribute to weight gain. Evidence suggests that for people with psoriasis who are overweight or obese, treating the psoriasis and following a healthy and balanced diet that promotes weight loss could lead to fewer flare-ups and less severe disease, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Scientists have also linked overconsumption of sugar with chronic inflammation, which can make psoriasis worse.

Some people with psoriasis have a sensitivity to gluten, which is found in some types of alcohol, such as beer.Research suggests that for those who have the sensitivity, avoiding gluten can improve psoriasis symptoms, though it may not help much (if at all) in people without the sensitivity.

When it comes to hydration and psoriasis, you dont need to do anything special, says Feldman. Just make sure youre drinking enough water to support your overall health while limiting sweetened drinks or alcohol, he says.

Excerpt from:
Best and Worst Drinks for Psoriasis - Everyday Health

My skin is perfect, said no one ever. Real talk: By the time you hit adulthood, your skin has gone through growing pains of its own. Between the ages of 12 and 24, 85% of Americans have at least minor acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology; another 10.7% will have eczema. Got dry skin? Youre among one in three people who deal with it every day, according to recent research.

In other words, weve all got skin issues. And just as no two people are alike, neither are the skin woes we face, meaning there is no one-treatment-fits-all plan. Each chronic skin condition has its own unique set of symptoms, causes and ways of being managed. Take a look at what the experts have to say about these 10 common skin disordersand how to keep your skin healthy now and in the future.

Leave it to the global pandemic to coin a new derm term: We seen a lot of maskne in the last two years, especially at the height of COVID, due to all the mask-wearing and how it affects the skin, saysDr. George Han, MD, PhD, an associate professor and director of research in the department of dermatology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Pandemic or not, says Dr. Han, adult acne is on the rise. We have women who never had acne as kids coming in as new patients at 30 years old, he says, adding that the reason for this increase is not clear.

The condition occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, leading to pimples, and to a lesser extent blackheads and whiteheads, according to the Mayo Clinic. Acne can occur on your face, chestand back, among other placesin the case of cystic acne, pimple-like bumps form under the skin surface.

We dont understand exactly why acne happens, however, we know that it is driven by hormones, diet and stress, saysDr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Over-the-counter topical medications are the first line of defense with acne and can be effective in clearing your skin. Benzoyl peroxide is perhaps the most effective ingredient to treat angry pimples, Dr. Zeichner says. Look for formulations with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, which studies show to be as effective as higher concentrations but with less skin irritation.

Meanwhile, topical retinoids act like pipe cleaners to keep the pores clear, Dr. Zeichner says. I use them in treating my adult acne patients because they also offer collagen-stimulating benefits to address aging skin. Products containing salicylic acid may also help, he says: This ingredient is a type of beta hydroxy acid that removes excess oil and dead cells from the surface of the skin to help dry out pimples.

If youve given these remedies a try and your acne stubbornly persists, its time to call in the reinforcements. If they are not doing the trick after one to two months, I recommend speaking to a dermatologist for professional recommendations and to consider an oral medication, says Dr. Zeichner. In adult women, we use hormonal therapies like birth control pills or spironolactone to address the hormonal impact on oil glands.

Related: Do Pimple Patches Actually Work?

If youre thinking, I didnt know dry skin was an actual condition, were with you. But theres the dish-soap-dried-out-my-hands dry skin, and then theres the clinical sort. Known as xerosis cutis, clinically dry skin can cause cracking, bleeding, itching and irritation. The condition frequently affects older people and is made worse by dry heat during winter months.

Dry skin can also be caused by another underlying condition, such as eczema or kidney disease, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Certain medications can contribute to dry skin as well.

Treatment for dry skin starts with lifestyle changes. Follow these tips from the AAD:

In severe cases, your dermatologist might also prescribe a steroid for short-term use to calm any inflammation thats making itching or cracks in your skin worse.

Unless youve been living under a rock (pun intended), you know all about alopecia as it pertains to Jada Pinkett Smith, the Oscars and that infamous Chris Rock slap. In a nutshell, alopecia refers to hair loss. There are a few types of alopecia; alopecia areata is the most commonan autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles on the face, head and sometimes other areas of the body, causing hair to fall out.

Alopecia can occur in both men and women and people of any race and age, although it typically appears for the first time when people are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, per the National Institutes of Health. About 6.8 million Americans have alopecia areata, with a lifetime occurrence around 2%, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Depending on your age, location of hair loss and extent of baldness, your doctor may talk with you about the following options to help stimulate hair growth, per the American Academy of Dermatology:

Other options include wigs, transplants or scalp prosthesis, or going the opposite route and shaving your head.

Related: Best Skincare Routine for Morning and Night

Even the word sounds itchyand with eczema, your skin usually is. We talk about eczema as the itch that rashespeople feel itchy and before their eyes, a rash starts to appear, says Dr. Han. That rash typically looks like tiny red bumps clustered together.

While the condition has no single cause, there is often a family history of asthma and allergies associated with the condition. (The condition itself is tied to genetics: If one of your parents has eczema, your risk of developing it jumps two- to three-fold, according to research in the Journal of Pediatrics.) Other triggers for the condition include smoking, stress, dry skin and hormonal fluctuations, among others.

Eczema is a condition where the skin barrier is not functioning as well as it should be, says Dr. Zeichner. In eczema, the microbiome, or collection of microorganisms that live on the skin surface, is disrupted. This leads to loss of hydration and inflammation in the skin.

Atopic dermatitis is the condition most people mean when they refer to eczemathe terms are used interchangeably. But there are several other types of the condition, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including contact dermatitis (caused by direct skin contact with an irritant); dyshidrotic eczema (blisters on hands and feet); hand eczema (symptoms are limited to your hands); neurodermatitis (patches on skin are thicker); nummular eczema (characterized by larger welts on your skin); and stasis dermatitis (caused by faulty veins that leak fluid).

The goal of treatment is to repair the skin barrier with moisturizers, says Dr. Zeichner. We also want to reduce inflammation in the skin with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or topical or systemic medication by prescription. Treatments for eczema range from DIY therapies (warm baths, baking soda and thick moisturizers) to medical intervention. Your doctor may talk with you about calcineurin, Janus kinase and PDE4 inhibitors, or biologics, all of which work by blocking certain proteins in the body that turn on skin inflammation.

So that waseczema. The skin condition it is most commonly confused with is psoriasis. If you look at old medical textbooks, youll see that we used to distinguish between the two by saying that eczema means you have itchy skin and psoriasis doesnt itch, says Dr. Han. But in the past few decades that has been turned on its head and we now know psoriasis also itches.

In fact, he says, 80% to 90% of psoriasis patients cite itching as a primary symptom. So what makes psoriasis different than eczema? Mainly, how and where the disease appears on the body. The classic description of a psoriasis lesion is thick scaly skin on top of a plaque, says Dr. Han. It tends to be a red area thats relatively clearly cut off from the surrounding skin. Whereas with eczema, you have small red bumps in red patches on skin.

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While plaque psoriasis is the most common form of this condition, there are other types of psoriasis, including nail, scalp, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis. In all cases, the psoriasis is caused by skin cell turnover that occurs too quickly. The process usually takes 30 days, but in people with psoriasis, cell turnover happens in three days, says Dr. Han. The dead skin cells pile up, leading to the conditions telltale plaques.

Treatments for psoriasis range from topical creams like retinoids to systemic medications, and which you use depends largely on the severity of your condition. In cases where your symptoms are very mild, you might even try home remedies for psoriasis, including moisturizers that contain salicylic acid to help exfoliate the plaques, essential oils (the benefits of these are questionable), mindfulness techniques and various foods to reduce skin inflammation. (Skip the processed foods, which make inflammation worse, according to research in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.)

For moderate to severe psoriasis, your doctor will likely talk with you about drugs called biologics, which work by targeting the proteins in your body responsible for causing inflammation in your skin. Biologics are usually given as injections.

Related: Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Routine for Oily Skin

Rosacea can look a lot like acne but typically affects older patients as opposed to teens, says Alok Vij, M.D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Rosacea can have a few components: broken blood vessels on the skin surface, pustules like acne but not blackheads and thickening of the sebaceous skin. (Picture W.C. Fields with thick skin on his nose, he suggests.)

So, how is rosacea treated? We start by classifying the severity of the disease, says Dr. Vij. If its mild, well use topical anti-inflammatory creams or antibiotics for pustular rosacea. Laser therapy may help reduce redness from blood vessels and there is some evidence that oral vitamin A therapy is helpful.

Rosacea treatment may take four weeks to see improvement because that's the length of a full skin cycle, he adds. In the meantime, many over-the-counter products and cosmetics can lessen the red appearance.

Unlike most of the common and chronic skin conditions that are marked by increased plaques, bumps or redness, the disorder vitiligo is characterized by whats missing: Namely, skin color. Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which your own antibodies attack cells called melanocytes in your body, says Nada Elbuluk, M.D., a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the Keck School of Medicine and director of the USC Skin of Color Center and Pigmentary Disorders Clinic at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. These cells create melanin, which is what gives skin its color, so once they are affected, those areas of skin develop white patches.

Although scientists are still exploring the causes of vitiligo, the current thinking is that some people are genetically predisposed to the condition. There are two things that need to happen for vitiligo to occur, says Dr. Elbuluk. First, you have the genetics for it, and second, there is some sort of eventmaybe a sunburn or skin scrape or even stressthat triggers the onset of vitiligo.

The psychological impact of vitiligo can be severe: In a review of dozens of studies, a report in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found that 62% of people with vitiligo also suffer from depression while 68% struggle with anxiety. People with vitiligo start to self-isolate or feel uncomfortable in social situations, says Dr. Elbuluk. The emotional symptoms of the disease are very concerning.

Treatment for vitiligo varies depending on which parts and how much of the body is affected, and may include phototherapy, laser therapy, topical steroids, oral medication and surgery. Some people, though, may choose not to treat vitiligo at all. Celebrities like model Winnie Harlow have built their career celebrating their unique skin appearance.

If youve ever nicked yourself shaving, only to discover an inflamed red bump in the spot the following day, thats folliculitis. Sometimes referred to as fungal acne, the condition is marked by infected or inflamed bumps on the skin that can look like acne at first, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There are different types of folliculitis, named either for the type of bacteria that has caused the infection or the severity and location of the skin symptoms. (You can develop folliculitis anywhere and everywhere, including your butt, chestand chin.)

Folliculitis is a very common and benign condition that refers to little pimples that occur any place where there are hair follicles on your body, says Dr. Vij. You can get it on your face, thighs, back of armsjust about anywhere. Because symptoms (inflamed bumps) are typically mild, we tend to use fewer aggressive treatments, says Dr. Vij. These might include benzoyl peroxide washes and topical antibiotics, as well as warm compresses and anti-itch creams.

Related: Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin

Sweat much? If so, you might be among the one in 20 people in the U.S. who have hyperhidrosis, a skin condition characterized by excessive perspiration (the exact number of folks with hyperhidrosis is unknown and estimates range from one in 50 people to closer to one in 10, per the Cleveland Clinic.

We all sweat sometimesits how our body cools itself, after all. But in people with hyperhidrosis, not only is sweating excessive, it can happen at random times, for no apparent reason, when youre not even stressed. It is disruptive at best and a self-confidence crusher at its worst.

How can you tell the difference between a heavy sweater and one with a clinical disorder? The Cleveland Clinic list these symptoms of hyperhidrosis:

There are two types of hyperhidrosis: focal (also called primary) which results from a genetic mutation and generalized (also called secondary) which results from another condition or medication you may be taking.

Based on the severity of your sweating, your doctor may treat your hyperhidrosis with anything from clinical-grade antiperspirants to iontophoresisthis at-home device zaps your skin with a mild current to temporarily shut down your sweat glands, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Other treatments include Botox injections, oral medication and even surgery to remove the sweat glands.

Hidradenitis is a condition where cysts, nodules and scars typically develop in areas like the underarms, groin and under the breasts, says Dr. Zeichner. We dont understand exactly why it happens, but we know that it is caused by blockages within sweat glands.

Risk factors for developing the condition (which can appear as bumps and blackheads on the skin surface) include family history, smoking and obesity.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with other severe acne-like conditions, which are collectively known as the follicular occlusion tetrad, Dr. Zeichner says. Hidradenitis suppurativa goes through flares and remissions, but most lesions never completely clear, he adds. While medications can help keep symptoms under control, currently there is no cure.

Lifestyle modifications can help though. These include regular cleaning of the under-skin pimples with surgical-grade, antimicrobial cleansers; a healthy diet and exercise to maintain a proper body weight; and quitting smoking.

In mild cases, topical medications offer some help, says Dr. Zeichner. Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation are useful. Larger abscesses may be drained. In severe cases, plastic surgeons may remove the glands in the affected areas altogether and replace the skin with a graft.

As the disease progresses, systemic medications may be needed as well, including a biologic medication (Humira) that is FDA-approved to address the underlying inflammatory response that makes symptoms worse.

And there you have it: The main chronic skin conditions that can mess with your daily mojo. Theyre more common than most people realizeespecially when you add them all together. So if your skin is itching and you havent visited a patch of poison ivy lately, talk with your dermatologist about whats going on. If you do have one of these chronic skin disorders, treating it early will help you get back to your regularly scheduled life.

Next up: These Top TikTok Skincare Hacks Actually Work

Read more here:
These Are the 10 Most Common Chronic Skin Conditionsand the Most Important Facts to Know About Them - Parade Magazine

Holistic, collaborative, multidisciplinary, and integrated communication between physicians and women of childbearing age is lacking, according to a study published in Springer.1 Medical treatment and family planning, particularly among women of childbearing age with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), should be considered within this patient population. Patient-centered care including reproductive choices should be integrated as a part of routine clinical practice.

The proportion of women being treated with biologics is growing, investigators explained. However, data on treatment recommendation awareness among treating physicians and women who are considering pregnancy and family planning are limited.

An English-language, 55-question survey was developed to identify the current practices of physicians regarding the reproductive health needs of women with RA, PsA, and psoriasis in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The questionnaire was designed to simultaneously elicit spontaneity of physicians while allowing for the processing of responses, mutual comparison, and overall assessment. The survey obtained information from 120 physicians, including 82 rheumatologists and 38 dermatologists.

Female patients of reproductive age (aged 18 to 45 years) with moderate-to-severe disease encompassed 10-30% of all respondents. Roughly two-thirds of physicians discussed family planning with their patients when making the diagnosis. Rheumatologists collaborated with other specialists more frequently when compared with dermatologists and gynecologist/obstetricians. Pregnancy effects were the top concern for female patients.

Approximately half of the rheumatologists revised treatment 6 months prior to when the patient planned on becoming pregnant (44% [n = 36/81]). However, dermatologists acted much sooner (26% [n = 10/38]), acting 2 to 3 years prior planned parenthood. While rheumatologists selected systemic glucocorticoids as firs-line treatment to counteract pregnancy flares, dermatologists preferred topical corticosteroids.

Although gender alone did not influence treatment choice in 11% of dermatologists and 39% of rheumatologists, all dermatologists and 96% of rheumatologists were influenced by the patients fertility and pregnancy. Disease severity and uncontrolled disease were the main risk factors linked to conception in this patient population. In fact, 53% of dermatologists and 79% of rheumatologists believed that poor disease control was associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Of the most valuable sources of information as determined by physicians, congresses and interdisciplinary forums were the most highly rated. Patient education and collaboration were noted as key factors in reducing unplanned pregnancies.

A cross-border investigation, from the perspective of both rheumatologist and dermatologist, strengthened the study. However, investigators did not evaluate or categorize the individual physicians level of experience with biologics or reproductive health and instead based data on actual clinic experience. Investigators theorize that those who have had more exposure to this approach would be more willing to utilize it. The lack of formal survey validation, and the fact that the survey was provided in English, further limits the study.

To improve the reproductive health of sexually active women of childbearing age in Central Europe who have chronic inflammatory diseases (CID), rheumatologists and dermatologists must improve their education and work with other specialists, investigators concluded. More timely discussions with women of reproductive age and family planning are needed to educate them about the disease's effects on their childbearing potential and the selection of treatment options based on their reproductive goals. Best practices in patient-centered care must consider each patient's reproductive decisions in their treatment planning to give the best patient-centered care.

Reference:

Olejrov M, Macejov , Gkalpakiotis S, Prochzkov L, Tth Z, Prgr P. Reproductive Healthcare in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Diseases in Routine Clinical Practice: Survey Results of Rheumatologists and Dermatologists [published online ahead of print, 2022 Sep 24]. Rheumatol Ther. 2022;10.1007/s40744-022-00488-z. doi:10.1007/s40744-022-00488-z

Read more:
Survey Addresses Concerns Regarding Reproductive Healthcare Communication in Women with RA, PsA - Rheumatology Network

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting)diseasein which the immune system becomes overactive, causing skin cells to multiply too quickly. Patches of skin become scaly and inflamed, most often on the scalp, elbows, or knees, but other parts of the body can be affected as well. Scientists do not fully understand what causes psoriasis, but they know that it involves a mix of genetics and environmental factors.

The symptoms of psoriasis can sometimes go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months followed by periods when they subside or go into remission. There are many ways to treat psoriasis, and your treatment plan will depend on the type and severity of disease. Most forms of psoriasis are mild or moderate and can be successfully treated with creams or ointments. Managing common triggers, such as stress and skin injuries, can also help keep the symptoms under control.

Having psoriasis carries the risk of getting other serious conditions, including:

See the rest here:
Psoriasis Types, Symptoms & Causes | NIAMS