How To Understand And Manage Psoriasis Better

Psoriasis is a common autoimmune skin disorder affecting about 3% or 7.5 million adults in the United States. 

While there is no cure for psoriasis, effective treatment and management strategies can ease the symptoms. Let’s understand the condition better. 

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease causing itchy and scaly patches that typically appear on the scalp, trunk, or back, and limbs such as knees and elbows.

It can interfere with your daily routine as it may be painful, making it harder for you to focus and interfering with your sleep.

Psoriasis comes and goes in cycles. The pattern is that it usually flares for a few weeks and months, and then subsides for some time.

Types of Psoriasis

There are several types of psoriasis such as:

• Plaque psoriasis: The most common type of psoriasis, it appears as plaques which are dry, itchy, raised red patches covered with silvery-white scales. They develop in a symmetrical pattern on your body and are typically found on the scalp, lower back, and limbs (elbows and knees). 

• Nail psoriasis:  Psoriasis can affect fingernails and toenails, causing pitting, abnormal nail growth, and discoloration. Psoriatic nails might loosen and separate from the nail bed (onycholysis). Severe disease may cause the nail to crumble.

• Pustular psoriasis: In this rare type, clearly defined pus-filled blisters called pustules surrounded by red skin appear on the body. It can occur in extensive patches on the body or in small concentrated areas of the palms and soles.

• Erythrodermic psoriasis: The least common and most severe kind of psoriasis, the entire body is covered with a peeling red rash that can intensely itch or burn. This kind can be short-lived (acute) or long-term (chronic).  A severe sunburn and certain medications could trigger it. 

• Inverse psoriasis: Smooth red patches are found in the skin folds of the groin, armpits, and under the breasts. The patches of inflamed skin can get worsened with sweating and rubbing. Fungal infections may trigger the condition. 
• Guttate psoriasis: It affects children and young adults. It appears as small, red scaling dots on the torso and limbs. The outbreaks are commonly triggered by bacterial infections like strep throat.

What Are The Symptoms Of Psoriasis?

The signs and symptoms of psoriasis can vary from person to person depending on the type of psoriasis they have, the locations where it appears on your body, and the extent of the condition. 

Some common symptoms are:

• Thick, raised, dry patches on the skin, covered with an itchy silvery-white coating called scale. They range from small spots of dandruff-like scales to major eruptions all over the body.
• Rashes that vary in color such as purple with grayscale on brown or black skin and pink or red with the silver scale on white skin
• Small scaling spots mostly in children
• Dry, cracked skin that may also bleed
• Itching, burning and soreness

What Causes Psoriasis?

In normal conditions, your body produces new skin cells in the deepest layer of skin. The new skin cells move up gradually until they reach the outermost level. Then, they die and fall off. The entire process takes around 3-4 weeks.

This process is hastened to 3-7 days in people with psoriasis. Immature cells build up rapidly on the outermost layer of the skin, as flaky, crusty patches covered with scales.

Psoriasis is not contagious, and scientists have been trying to find out how psoriasis develops. They found two primary reasons for psoriasis. 

First is a person’s immune system. The white blood cells or T-cells, in our immune system, attack harmful bacteria and viruses and help prevent us from getting sick.

But the immune system is impaired in those with psoriasis. Here, the T-cells also attack the healthy skin cells of the body. This attack triggers the body to make new skin cells more often. So, the extra immature skin cells pile up on the outermost surface of the skin, causing psoriasis. 

Second, their genes play a role in causing psoriasis. Psoriasis runs in families, so you may be more likely to get psoriasis if you have a close relative with the condition, but the exact role of genetics is unclear. Research shows that many different combinations of genes cause the development of psoriasis. But what makes it complex is how some people with psoriasis don’t have genes that increase their risk of getting psoriasis. Or even how people who have genes that increase their risk of getting psoriasis may never develop psoriasis at all. This discovery led scientists to believe that there must be certain triggers that cause psoriasis.

What Are The Triggers For Psoriasis? 

There are many things in your daily life that can trigger your psoriasis. Again, it differs from individual to individual. Something that might trigger psoriasis in one person might not have any effect on someone else. The triggers are different for everyone. 

Common psoriasis triggers include:

• Stress
• Skin injuries, such as cuts, scratches, sunburns, and insect bites
• Illnesses such as infections such as strep throat, bronchitis, and tonsillitis
• Some medications, like  lithium, prednisone, and hydroxychloroquine
• Weather such as cold, dry weather
• Smoking 
• Alcohol 
• Allergies
• Certain foods

How To Manage Psoriasis?

Though there is no cure for psoriasis, you can still live your best life with psoriasis with the following tips. 

• Take your prescribed medications as instructed.
• Avoid harsh soaps and use medicated shampoo for the scales on your scalp
• Use moisturizer regularly, especially after a bath
• Lower your stress levels with relaxation techniques such as meditation, exercise, and consulting a mental health professional, if need be. 
• Do regular skin self-examination for any changes in your skin. If you find any skin changes such as a rash that’s worsening and doesn’t go away, contact your primary care doctor in Los Gatos right away. 
• Talk to your doctor about lowering your risk for related conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression 

Conclusion

Psoriasis, an itchy skin condition, can come and go throughout your life. It’s related to an overactive immune response and isn’t contagious. There isn’t a cure for psoriasis, but treatments can be effective in easing the symptoms.