What is Psoriasis Skin Disorder

Affecting around one in every fifty adults, psoriasis skin disorder is a physical condition that can cause considerable mental distress. Clinical research has concluded that although psoriaisis shows itself as a skin complaint, the actual cause is rooted in the immune system of the body.

Common psoriasis symptoms include skin that is salmon colored, cracked, tender and irritated. One of the more commonplace types is called plaque psoriasis where the afflicted area develops eliptical, circular or odd shaped patches covered with cracked, silver colored skin. The form and sizes of the patches varies widely and several smaller areas can combine together to form one bigger shape of irritated scaly skin. As well as being unsightly, these larger areas are inclined to crack and begin bleeding.

The area of affected skin can become very sore and feel as though it is burning. Like the shape, there is no consistency as to the length of time a particular flare-up will last. It could last a week to twleve days or you may have to suffer it for a number of weeks. One of the worst aspects for sufferers is that it is a chronic complaint and recurrent flare-ups can happen at any time.

Body areas that are most often affected include the torso, scalp, elbows and knees although any part of the body can develop symptoms of psoriasis. One strange anomaly is that flare-ups tend to be symmetric in as much that both sides of the body will be afflicted in the same areas at the same time.

Hereditary factors play some role in psoriasis meaning that those individuals with parents or grandparents who have had psoriasis have an increased chance that they will develop it as well. For reasons that are not yet fully understood, T-cells, which are required by our bodies to produce infection fighting white blood cells, cause inflammation of the skin. These same cells also set off some bodily process which results in the over production of skin cells. Since these skin cells are surplus to requirements, they simply pile up on top of each other and in turn create the telltale raised patches on the skins surface. To nourish these additional skin cells, an increased blood supply is needed which results in the red look.

Although not the causes of psoriasis, frequent triggers include sunlight, strep infections and injuries, both past and present, to the skin. Anxiety and stress can also spark an outbreak as can alterations in hormone levels. Higher incidences of psoriasis have also been noted in those folks with the early stages of HIV infection. Folks who smoke cigarettes who also consume alcohol increase their chances of developing psoriasis.

In the absence of any recognized cure for psoriasis, there are several effectual treatments that can at least relieve the symptoms. Start by keeping the affected areas damp and by resisting the temptation to scratch.

The first line of treatments are topical and are applied directly to the affected area with the ultimate goal of trying to stem the production of surplus skin cells. Coal tar, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin D, tazorac and anthrallin are common topical treatment choices as are specially developed bathing products and moisturizers. For more severe cases where topical treatments maybe ineffectual, systemic medications may be prescribed by the physician. Phototherapy, where sufferers are exposed to medically-supervised UV radiation is also effectual in the treatment of psoriasis.