More Than Skin Troubles
A 2017 study from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that people with psoriasis that covers 10% of their body or more are 64% more likely than those without psoriasis to develop type 2 diabetes. “About 30% of people with psoriasis also might develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes destructive inflammation in your joints,” says dermatologist Dr. Gideon Smith. Psoriasis also may signal a higher risk for fatty liver disease and heart attacks.
How Is Psoriasis Treated
Psoriasis is usually treated by a dermatologist . A rheumatologist may also help with treatment. Treatments can include:
- ultraviolet light from the sun or from home or office treatments. But in some children, sunlight can make psoriasis worse.
- creams, lotions, ointments, and shampoos such as moisturizers, corticosteroids, vitamin D creams, and shampoos made with salicylic acid or coal tar
- medicines taken by mouth or injected medicines
A doctor might try one therapy and then switch to another, or recommend combining treatments. It’s not always easy to find a therapy that works, and sometimes what works for a time stops helping after a while.
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed
Doctors usually diagnose psoriasis by examining the skin, scalp, and nails. They’ll also ask whether someone else in the family has psoriasis and if the child recently had an illness or started taking a new medicine.
Rarely, doctors might take a skin sample to check more closely. A biopsy can tell the doctor whether it’s psoriasis or another condition with similar symptoms.
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What Can Be Done
Psoriasis varies in severity from person to person, and in the same person at different times. Occasionally psoriasis can disappear spontaneously, but more usually, it is a chronic condition that requires treatment. If you discover that certain things make your psoriasis worse, try to avoid them. It should be noted that all degrees of psoriasis can be treated effectively. The treatment is not a cure, but it will ensure a better quality of life.
Generalised Pustular Psoriasis Or Von Zumbusch Psoriasis
This causes pustules that develop very quickly on a wide area of skin. The pus consists of white blood cells and is not a sign of infection.
The pustules may reappear every few days or weeks in cycles. During the start of these cycles, von Zumbusch psoriasis can cause fever, chills, weight loss and fatigue.
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Is It Scalp Psoriasis Or Dandruff
More than half of all psoriasis patients have scalp psoriasis, according to the NPF. Itchy plaques can extend beyond the hairline onto the forehead, neck, and around the ears.
“Most people with scalp psoriasis have it on other parts of their body as well,” says Dina D. Strachan, MD, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
Scalp psoriasis is sometimes confused with seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff. According to Dr. Strachan, dandruff which causes a flaky, itchy scalp without signs of inflammation tends to itch more than scalp psoriasis. It has a greasy-appearing yellow scale, Strachan says. In contrast, psoriasis whether it’s on your scalp or any other body part tends to have a thick, silvery scale.”
Woman Whose Psoriasis Was One Of The ‘worst Cases Doctors Had Ever Seen’ Bravely Embraces Condition
At her worst, 95 per cent of Hannah Williams body was coated in red, flaky patches
A woman whose psoriasis coated 95 per cent of her body has bravely embraced her condition – vowing to talk openly about it and not let it hold her back.
For years, Hannah Williams, now 24, tried to hide her flaky, red and painful skin, hating how other people stared and their eyes drifted over to her psoriasis patches as they talked to her.
Hannah, from Liverpool, was just 12 when she first noticed dry flakes of skin in her hair.
Initially, doctors thought she simply had dandruff, but around a year later, she was diagnosed with psoriasis an incurable condition that sees red, crusty or scaly patches of skin spring up across the body.
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Over time, her symptoms worsened until 95 per cent of her body was covered, shattering her confidence, so she hated anyone seeing her arms or legs and was too self-conscious even to visit the hairdressers.
But now Hannah, a receptionist, is determined to embrace her skin and is encouraging others to do the same by supporting Heads Up to Psoriasis, a campaign aiming to empower people living with scalp psoriasis to speak out.
She said: Over the years, I have had some tough times with psoriasis.
Luckily I didnt have any problems with people being nasty at school, she said.
According to the NHS, the condition is caused by the overproduction of skin cells.
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In particular, the mother-of-two, from North Carolina in the US, has admitted that her family and motherhood has saved her from complete depression.
She said: “Psoriasis has affected my entire life.
“It is an autoimmune disorder. I want to make more people aware of that.
Sabrina has finally gained the courage to speak out and raise more awareness of the ‘crippling autoimmune condition’. Image: Barcroft TV
Sabrina was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was just 12 years old. Image: Barcroft TV
“Basically, it doesnt allow my immune system to work in a way that it should.
“I produce skin cells way too quickly and I also have psoriatic arthritis which is an arthritis that ties in with psoriasis in the most severe cases.
“The main side effects of my condition are fatigue, pain, swelling, itching, burning, depression and anxiety.
“I cant work because of the pain it causes and also the reactions that I get from people seeing it.”
Sabrina admits that her family and motherhood has saved her from complete depression. Image: Barcroft TV
Sabrina hopes to educate people on something that is much more than ‘just a skin condition’. Image: Barcroft TV
While psoriasis isnt a rare condition, the severity of Sabrina’s psoriasis is extreme – with docs saying she is one of the “worst cases” they have seen.
She said: “A lot of people have it.
“Unfortunately, I just cant.”
What Are The Types Of Psoriasis
In children, common types of psoriasis include:
Plaque psoriasis. This is the most common type of psoriasis. It causes plaques and silvery scales, usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. They can be itchy and painful and may crack and bleed.
Guttate psoriasis. This type often shows up after an illness, especially strep throat. It causes small red spots, usually on the trunk, arms, and legs. Spots also can appear on the face, scalp, and ears.
Inverse psoriasis. This causes smooth, raw-looking patches of red skin that feel sore. The patches develop in places where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, buttocks, upper eyelids, groin and genitals, or under a woman’s breasts.
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Dermatology Life Quality Index
Psoriasis can affect a persons mental health, and people with psoriasis often experience anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
For this reason, doctors a Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire to assess the impact of symptoms on a persons quality of life. Symptoms that look mild to others can have a severe impact on mental health and daily functioning.
Doctors may also factor in the results of a questionnaire on coping strategies.
A doctor may recommend a treatment alone or alongside a drug or another topical option.
Many topical treatments can have adverse effects, such as burning or irritation. Some treatments increase susceptibility to UV light. People should check with a medical professional before using any product.
Will Quitting Smoking Help Psoriasis Udos Oil
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Maintain A Healthy Weight
When it comes to managing your psoriasis, Warycha says maintaining a healthy weight can help lower the levels of inflammation in the body. In addition to diet, engaging in physical activity can also help you manage your weight.
If youre finding it challenging to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.
How Psoriasis Is Diagnosed
A GP can often diagnose psoriasis based on the appearance of your skin.
In rare cases, a small sample of skin called a biopsy will be sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.
This determines the exact type of psoriasis and rules out other skin disorders, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, lichen planus, lichen simplex and pityriasis rosea.
You may be referred to a specialist in diagnosing and treating skin conditions if your doctor is uncertain about your diagnosis, or if your condition is severe.
If your doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which is sometimes a complication of psoriasis, you may be referred to a doctor who specialises in arthritis .
You may have blood tests to rule out other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and X-rays of the affected joints may be taken.
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Risks Of Not Treating Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes thick, red, scaly patches called plaques to develop. These plaques can be itchy, painful, and embarrassing. For many people, having psoriasis means dealing not only with the symptoms, but also with the treatments. These include creams and ointments that can be messy, oral or injectable medications that can be expensive and come with serious risks and side effects, and light treatments that can be inconvenient and time-consuming. And for most people, treatment or prevention of psoriasis flares is a life-long commitment.
You may wonder if its worth all of the trouble. And you may be concerned about the risks that come with your psoriasis medications or treatments. However, the risks of not treating your psoriasis are much more than skin deep.
Strategies To Eliminate Psoriasis
I have a terrible case of psoriasis, writes this weeks House Call. My doctor is recommending these horrible immune-suppressing drugs and steroids that cause cancer and other problems. What can I do other than to take these drugs?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease of the skin that affects over three percent of the U.S. population , and typically involves scaling and inflammation.
Most often, psoriasis results in patches of thick, red skin covered with silvery scales. These patches, sometimes called plaques, usually itch or feel sore. They most often occur on the elbows, legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms and soles of the feet, but they can occur anywhere on the body.
The disease may also affect the fingernails, toenails, soft tissues of the genitals and inside the mouth. Often the skin around affected joints starts to crack. Some people with psoriasis experience joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis, called psoriatic arthritis.
Altogether, it makes for an absolutely miserable experience.
Ive been a doctor for 30 years and have practiced Functional Medicine for 20 of those years. Ive witnessed the heartbreak of psoriasis with its scaly, itchy, inflamed, peeling skin that leads to arthritis and joint pain for some people.
The problem with current medical thinking is that it treats diseases individually, requiring specific diagnoses and labels like you have psoriasis. And then you get the cream, the steroids and other short-term solutions.
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What Are Some Tips To Help Get The Condition Under Control
You can take steps to feel more in control of your condition. Some of these steps you can take at home, while others need to be supervised by your doctor.
If youre regularly experiencing flares, discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They can assess your condition and determine if your treatment plan is working effectively.
When it comes to making changes at home, these tips and lifestyle modifications are all options that you can try on your own:
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.
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Skin: Psoriasis 4 Cases
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a common skin condition worldwide. It is characterised by flaking, plaque and itchiness, and can affect all ages. It is thought to be due to the bodys immune system attacking the skin and disrupting its normal functions – a so-called “auto-immune disease.”
Psoriasis affects men and women equally and about 5% of patients will develop joint pains that may lead to joint inflammation or psoriatic arthritis.
Case No. 1. Psoriasis 5 years. 55 y.o. male
This 60 year old male had suffered from severe psoriasis for 5 years. The plaque and scaling skin almost covered his whole body. It was the worst case I had ever seen. However, his response after only 3 weeks’ treatment of twice weekly application of wheatgrass extract was extraordinary to say the least.
As you can see, the very thick plaque has almost disappeared and is replace for the greater part by normal skin. This was quite an extraordinary recovery.
Case No. 2. Psoriasis 20 years. 63 y.o. male
Back & buttock lesions
Numerous treatments including topical applications, UV light and cortisone injections etc. were to no avail, however, summer normally brought some relief.
On the left shows thick plaque, heavy scale formation and rough, thickened edges around lesions. The patients itch had also improved significantly requiring topical steroids only occasionally.
At 9 and 12 months, lesions continue to flatten and fade almost to normal skin colour.
Dr. Chris Reynolds.
What It Was Like Growing Up With Psoriasis As An African American Woman
I am an African-American woman in her 50s with very dark skin who in addition to battling psoriatic arthritis since my 40s, has battled plaque psoriasis the scaly skin that itches and flakes all of her life, erythrodermic psoriasis the best way to describe this is that my whole body goes on fire several times in my life, and guttate psoriasis spots that covered my entire body at one point in my life.
Whats been especially challenging in my lifelong struggle with psoriasis has been the general lack of information as well as a medical community lacking in knowledge when it comes to psoriasis in people of color.
When I was a teenager I used to go to the library and try and find pictures of someone who looked like me. I spent countless hours searching for just one photo. After months and months of searching and coming up with nothing, I believed I was alone in this world and there was no one like me with psoriasis.
I did find some photos of Caucasian people with psoriasis, but their psoriasis never looked like mine nowhere close. My psoriasis was always very dark and thick. They had red or pink patches of thickened skin that were covered with whitish scales, just like the articles that described what psoriasis looked like. This was not me.
As a child of color, this was extremely confusing because, guess what: I didnt have white silvery scales on me!
Then over the next 40 years, I went to many doctors.
But how can you find a good doctor?
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Diet And Psoriasis: What’s The Connection
Can your diet help keep psoriasis under control? Maybe. An observational study published online July 25, 2018, by JAMA Dermatology found that people with psoriasis who followed a Mediterranean diet an eating pattern rich in fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, fruit, nuts, and extra-virgin olive oil experienced fewer severe flare-ups. This was only an association and more research is needed, but experts believe the Mediterranean diet contains many foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and may offer extra protection against psoriasis triggers.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Psoriasis
Psoriasis, in general, is a genetic condition passed down through families. “It’s likely that multiple genes need to be affected to allow psoriasis to occur and that it’s frequently triggered by an external event, such as an infection,” says James W. Swan, MD, professor of dermatology at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois.
Certain risk factors, such as a family history or being obese, may increase your odds of developing psoriasis.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation , at least 10 percent of people inherit genes that could lead to psoriasis, but only 3 percent or less actually develop the disease. For this reason, it is believed that the disease is caused by a combination of genetics and external factors or triggers.
A psoriasis outbreak may be provoked by:
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