Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Psoriasis How Do You Get It

How Does Psoriasis Affect Quality Of Life

How to Get Rid of Scalp Psoriasis

It is widely accepted that psoriasis can severely affect an individuals quality of life although for many the condition is mild and a mere inconvenience. The severity of the disease does not always relate to the severity of anxiety that an individual will have. The area where the psoriasis is located such as the hands or face can severely affect an individuals ability to work or lead to discrimination due to ignorance.

What Are The Clinical Features Of Psoriasis

Psoriasis usually presents with symmetrically distributed, red, scaly plaques with well-defined edges. The scale is typically silvery white, except in skin folds where the plaques often appear shiny with a moist peeling surface. The most common sites are scalp, elbows, and knees, but any part of the skin can be involved. The plaques are usually very persistent without treatment.

Itch is mostly mild but may be severe in some patients, leading to scratching and lichenification characterised by thickened leathery skin and increased skin markings. Painful skin cracks or fissures may occur.

When psoriatic plaques clear up, they may leave brown or pale marks that can be expected to fade over several months.

Other Treatments For Psoriasis

If you have severe psoriasis then you may need hospital-based treatment. Light therapy is one type of treatment that can be used. This may involve treatment with ultraviolet B light. Another type of phototherapy is called PUVA – psoralen and ultraviolet light in the A band. This involves taking tablets which enhance the effects of UV light on the skin. You then attend hospital for regular sessions under a special light which emits ultraviolet A .

Sometimes people with severe psoriasis are given intense courses of treatment, using the creams or ointments described above, but in higher strengths and with special dressings.

If psoriasis is severe and is not helped by the treatments listed above then a powerful medicine which can suppress inflammation is sometimes used. For example, methotrexate, ciclosporin, acitretin, etanercept, infliximab, efalizumab, secukinumab, ustekinumab and adalimumab. There is some risk of serious side-effects with these medicines, so they are only used on the advice of a specialist.

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Inflammation And Psoriasis: Making The Connection

The immune system and inflammation play a role in psoriasis. Heres how theyre believed to be connected.

Think of the immune system as your bodys alarm system. When you get a cold, infection, or scrape on your knee, your immune system sends out signals that trigger inflammation in an effort to defend itself.

When you have psoriasis, your immune system is out of balance. In fact, its in overdrive. An overactive immune system can send faulty signals and mistake healthy cells for harmful ones. This results in too much inflammation. For psoriasis patients, this means the body rapidly produces more skin cells than necessary.

Luckily, some treatment options can reduce inflammation, which may help the immune system and help to slow the rapid production of skin cells.

Talk to a dermatologist to learn more about treatment options that may work for you.

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Its important to work with a dermatologist when choosing a psoriasis treatment. Learn how to start that conversation.

Avoid Any Factors That Aggravate Psoriasis

Do You Know How to Get Rid of Psoriasis Naturally? Here is ...

In most people who have psoriasis, there is no apparent reason why a flare-up happens at any given time. However, in some people, psoriasis is more likely to flare up in certain situations. These include the following:

There is no evidence that any particular foods or diets are any better or worse for psoriasis than any other.

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What Is Cdc Doing About Psoriasis

In 2010, CDC worked with experts in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and public health to develop a public health perspective that considers how these conditions affect the entire population. The resulting report is Developing and Addressing the Public Health Agenda for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis pdf icon. You can read a short article about the agendaexternal icon in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

CDCs National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey , an intermittent source of national psoriasis data, has included questions about psoriasis as late as the 2013-2014 cycle. A recent analysis of NHANES data estimates that 7.4 million adults had psoriasis in 2013external icon.

  • Psoriasis causes patches of thick red skin and silvery scales. Patches are typically found on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of feet, but can affect other places . The most common type of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis.
  • Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis that eventually occurs in 10% to 20% of people with psoriasis. It is different from more common types of arthritis and is thought to be related to the underlying problem of psoriasis.
  • Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are sometimes considered together as psoriatic disease.

Who is at risk for psoriasis?

Anyone can get psoriasis. It occurs mostly in adults, but children can also get it. Men and women seem to have equal risk.

Can I get psoriasis from someone who has it?

Psoriasis Can Cause Arthritis

For an unknown reason, psoriasis can cause a form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms include:

  • discomfort, throbbing or swelling in one or many joints
  • tenderness in any joint
  • pain caused by inflammation in the joints, which stimulates nerve endings.
  • The joints most likely to be affected are the last joint in the fingers or toes, the sacrum , wrists, knees or ankles.

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What Causes Psoriasis Outbreaks

Psoriasis outbreaks differ from person to person. No one knows exactly what causes flare-ups. Common psoriasis triggers may include:

  • Skin injury .
  • Streptococcal or other infection that affects the immune system.
  • Certain prescription medications .
  • Cold weather, when people have less exposure to sunlight and humidity and more to hot, dry indoor air.

What Can I Do To Help Treat My Psoriasis

How to Cure Psoriasis Naturally

There may not be a cure yet but there is much you can do to help maintain and control your psoriasis. Psoriasis, regardless of location or type, is often irritated by contact, particularly tight clothing such as elasticated waistbands, socks, tights, and underwear. It may be useful to wear looser clothing where psoriasis is likely to be irritated either when flaring or during periods of treatment. Identifying factors that may cause your psoriasis to flare, using a diary, can be helpful.

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How Can Psoriasis Be Treated

Treatment of psoriasis depends upon your individual circumstances. Treatment applied to the surface of your skin is sufficient alone in most patients. For people with more extensive or difficult to treat psoriasis, ultraviolet light treatment , tablet treatment or injection treatment may be required.

Getting A Diagnosis Of Psoriatic Arthritis

The presence of psoriasis may provide an indication of psoriatic arthritis when someone develops joint symptoms. Psoriatic arthritis can develop in people with a lot or a little of psoriasis, and may be more common in people with nail psoriasis. As well as joint symptoms, psoriatic arthritis can lead to feeling tired. Many people become frustrated by a lack of diagnosis psoriatic arthritis tends to have periods of improvement and worsening, which may also be attributed to mechanical joint problems and not inflammatory arthritis.

If you have the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis, your doctor will often refer you to a rheumatologist. In some cases, further tests and imagery may be sought, although this will depend on the individual circumstances and level of confidence in the initial diagnosis.

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Can Psoriasis Be Treated

Yes, there are many forms of treatment for psoriasis, which range from those you apply to the skin to tablets, and more recently injectable therapies, See Treatments for Psoriasis.

Many people who have psoriasis find that the sun and artificial ultraviolet light helps to improve their skins appearance. For some the change is dramatic. Be aware that exposure to the sun and artificial UV therapy can cause damage to the skin. See Psoriasis and the sun and Psoriasis and phototherapy

For some people, talking therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy can also help them understand the psychological impact of psoriasis and provide a safe therapy which may help them cope with psoriasis. See our free online CBT programme

Your general practitioner or dermatologist will be best placed to advise you and keep you informed of all current and new treatments available and to recommend the best treatment programme for you personally.

Remember: Your treatment can only be as good as you allow it to be – that means if the treatment takes six weeks, you have to follow it as instructed for six weeks and no ducking out! Adherence to treatment instructions is an essential part of managing your psoriasis.

You Can Probably Blame An Out

How Do You Get Plaque Psoriasis?: Colorado Skin Care ...

Doctors arent sure why some people have these faulty immune systems and others dont, says Dr. Reichenberg, but genetics seems to be a driving force behind psoriasis. In a recent meta-analysis published in Nature Communications, University of Michigan researchers linked 16 genetic markers to psoriasisbumping the genetic regions linked to the condition to 63after analyzing data from more than 39,000 people.

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What Are The Trigger Factors

Although the underlying cause of psoriasis stems from your body’s immune system, the trigger factors that can make it worse or cause flare-ups include:

  • Weather: Cold and dry weather can dry out your skin, which makes the chances of having a flare-up worse. In contrast, hot, sunny weather appears to help control the symptoms of psoriasis in most people
  • Stress: Having psoriasis can cause stress itself and patients often report that outbreaks of symptoms come during particularly stressful times
  • Some medications: Certain drugs, such as lithium , drugs for malaria, and some beta-blockers , can cause flare-ups of psoriasis. Some common painkillers — called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — may also aggravate psoriasis, although they are still used in some people with psoriatic arthritis
  • Infections or disease: Certain infections, such as strep throat or tonsillitis, can result in guttate or other types of psoriasis. Psoriasis may worsen in people who have HIV
  • Trauma to the skin: In some people with psoriasis, trauma to the skin — including cuts, bruises, burns, bumps, vaccinations, tattoos and other skin conditions — can cause a flare-up of psoriasis symptoms either at the site of the injury or elsewhere. This condition is called Koebner’s phenomenon
  • Smoking: Some experts think that smoking can worsen psoriasis.

What Type Of Psoriasis Treatment Will I Need

Several treatment options can relieve psoriasis. Creams or ointments may be enough to improve the rash in small areas of skin. If the rash affects larger areas, or you also have joint pain, you may need other treatments. Joint pain may be a sign that you have arthritis.

Your provider will decide on a treatment plan based on:

  • Severity of the rash.
  • Vitamin A or retinoid creams.

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Are There Complications Of Psoriasis

In some people, psoriasis causes more than itchiness and red skin. It can lead to swollen joints and arthritis. If you have psoriasis, you may be at higher risk of:

  • Use medicated shampoo for scales on your scalp.

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

  • Talk to your healthcare provider about lowering your risk for related conditions, such as heart disease, depression and diabetes.
  • Lower your stress with meditation, exercise or seeing a mental health professional.

Treatments Include Light Therapy And Topical/oral/injectable Medications

HOW TO: GET RID OF DRY SCALP/PSORIASIS

Doctors choose the individual treatment based on the type and severity of psoriasis and the areas of the skin that are affected. The treatment goal for psoriasis is to reduce inflammation and itching, slow the growth of skin cells, and clear up the skin by removing dead skin cells.

Lotions, creams, and ointments are applied to the skin directly and have been shown effective for mild or moderate psoriasis. With more severe symptoms, topical medications are combined with other types of treatments. Because ultraviolet B light penetrates the skin and can slow the growth of affected skin cells, doctors may prescribe regular exposure to natural or artificial light to control symptoms of psoriasis. Light therapy usually involves regular, scheduled sessions of UVB light exposure, either via natural sunlight or using special lights or lasers.

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Is Psoriasis Hereditary

Although psoriasis is not contagious from person to person, there is a known hereditary tendency. Therefore, family history is very helpful in making the diagnosis.

There are many effective psoriasis treatment choices. The best treatment is individually determined by the treating doctor and depends, in part, on the type of disease, the severity, and amount of skin involved and the type of insurance coverage.

For mild disease that involves only small areas of the body , topical treatments , such as creams, lotions, and sprays, may be very effective and safe to use. Occasionally, a small local injection of steroids directly into a tough or resistant isolated psoriatic plaque may be helpful.

For moderate to severe psoriasis that involves much larger areas of the body , topical products may not be effective or practical to apply. This may require ultraviolet light treatments or systemic medicines. Internal medications usually have greater risks. Because topical therapy has no effect on psoriatic arthritis, systemic medications are generally required to stop the progression to permanent joint destruction.

What Can I Do To Help

  • Discuss your psoriasis and how it affects your life with your GP or dermatologist and identify treatment goals.
  • Manage your risk factors for heart disease and stroke with your GP.
  • Adopt a healthy lifestyle: eat a balanced diet, try to lose weight if you are overweight and exercise regularly.
  • Stop smoking if you smoke.
  • If you drink excessive alcohol, reducing your intake might be helpful.
  • Reduce stress, where possible.
  • Take your medications as recommended by your GP or dermatologist.

If you have pain in your joints discuss with your GP or dermatologist.

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Will Good Dietary Nutrition Help My Psoriasis

A healthy diet is important for well-being and can reduce your risk of many long term illnesses, including coronary heart disease, inflammatory conditions and even cancer. However there is no clear link between what you eat and the severity of psoriasis symptoms.

  • The British Nutrition Foundation suggests eating at least 300g oily fish per week for general health . Fish oil has been shown to benefit psoriasis
  • Aim to eat more green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrain cereals which also contain important essential fatty acids.
  • Cut back on saturated fats and vegetable oils and use more olive oil and rapeseed oil products
  • Eat fresh home made foods rather than pre-packaged, convenience foods
  • Certain foods may worsen your symptoms. If you experience any adverse effects from foods it may be worth making a note of these to discuss with your doctor and generally for your own avoidance when preparing and eating food

Symptoms Vary By Psoriasis Type

How to Cure Psoriasis Naturally

There are five different types of psoriasis: plaque , guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic. Each presents with different symptoms. Plaque psoriasis is marked by itchy, red, thick, scaly patches, usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, or scalp. Guttate psoriasis causes small red spots, usually on the trunk or the limbs, and is often triggered by a bacterial or viral infection. Pustular psoriasis causes pus-filled bumps on the soles and palms, and may also present with fever, chills, severe itching, muscle weakness, and exhaustion. Inverse psoriasis appears as sore, red patches where skin touches skin, such as under the arms, in the groin, and under the breasts in women. The most serious, and potentially life-threatening, form is erythrodermic psoriasis. The skin all over the body turns bright red, the heart rate increases, and the patient has difficulty maintaining normal body temperature. Erythrodermic psoriasis requires immediate medical attention.

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What Does Psoriasis Look Like

The skin changes of psoriasis are well defined and slightly raised pink or red areas with silvery-white scales. Many people have just a few plaques but some individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis may have several plaques covering large areas of their body.

Several patterns of psoriasis are recognised:

  • Chronic plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. Plaques of psoriasis are usually present on the knees, elbows, trunk, scalp, behind ears and between the buttocks although other areas can be involved too.
  • Guttate psoriasis consists of small plaques of psoriasis scattered over the trunk and limbs. It can be caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus which can cause throat infections.
  • Palmoplantar psoriasis is psoriasis affecting the palms and soles. Psoriasis may appear at other sites too.
  • Pustular psoriasis is rare type of psoriasis where the plaques on the trunk and limbs are studded with tiny yellow pus filled spots. It can be localised or generalised and can flare rapidly necessitating hospital admission for treatment.
  • Erythrodermic psoriasis is an aggressive rare form of psoriasis which affects nearly all of the skin and can sometimes require hospital admission for treatment.

Nail psoriasis is present in about half of people with psoriasis. The features of nail psoriasis are:

  • Pitting and ridging of the surface of the nail
  • Salmon pink areas of discolouration under the nail
  • Thickening and yellowing of the nails.
  • Complete nail destruction.

Are There Any Other Alternative Approaches

There are a variety of alternative approaches that can be undertaken alone or in combination with conventional therapies. It is essential if you are considering any alternative approaches to please discuss this with your doctor or healthcare professional as they may be detrimental to your health.

Such alternative approaches could entail Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Magnatherapy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Aromatherapy, Homeopathic Medicine, Yoga, Spa Treatments, Shiatsu, and Naturopathy. It is always advisable to fully research and find a reputable qualified practitioner who follows correct protocols for their clients. There are organisations that may be useful to contact for further details and advice. With this information you and your doctor or healthcare professional will be better placed to discuss what is best for you.

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