What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, inflammatory chronic skin condition that is characterized by skin inflammation and flaking. This skin condition occurs because skin cells grow or turnover too quickly.

Inflammatory chemicals produced by specialized white blood cells called lymphocytes trigger the proliferation of skin cells. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp but can occur anywhere on the body.

Psoriasis is an incurable, chronic inflammatory skin condition that can be treated. It has a variable course, periodically worsening and improving. Psoriasis can unexpectedly clear for years and stay in remission.

Causes of psoriasis?

Psoriasis is estimated to affect 7.5 million people in the U.S. Psoriasis is thought to be an immune system disorder, where your white blood cells collect in the skin and release inflammatory mediators (chemicals which produce inflammation). This causes your skin to get red and thicker than usual.

Some genetic markers have been linked to psoriasis and may be important in the development of the disease, however, not all people with these markers develop psoriasis. One theory is that people who have inherited a genetic susceptibility to psoriasis have the condition triggered by an external factor. Some of the proposed external factors include stress, infection, smoking, medications, injury, alcohol and obesity.

Factors that cause your genes to become activated include:

• Infections
• Stress or irritation
• Smoking
• Medications including lithium, beta blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and antimalarial drugs
• Injury
• Chemical reaction, particularly on the elbows, hands and knees
• Obesity

People with HIV/AIDS (especially in the later stages of the disease) can also develop psoriasis. It tends to be more severe in HIV patients with these sufferers reporting a family history of the condition.

Types of psoriasis

The spectrum of psoriasis ranges from mild with a limited involvement of small areas of skin to large, thick plaques to red inflamed skin affecting the entire body surface.

Types of psoriasis include:

• Plaque psoriasis: the most common form of psoriasis
• Pustular psoriasis: a more severe form of psoriasis that can be painful
• Guttate psoriasis: found mostly in children
• Napkin psoriasis: characteristically seen in infants between 2 and 8 months of age
• Flexural psoriasis: affecting body folds and genital areas
• Erythrodermic psoriasis: a severe form requiring hospitalization.

Symptoms of psoriasis

People affected by psoriasis may have the following effects that include:

• Thick red or silvery scaly patches of skin on their scalp, elbows, knees and other parts of the body,
• Itchy skin, however some people with psoriasis do not feel itchy
• Dry or cracked skin,
• Thickened and ridged fingernails and toenails,
• Stiff or sore joints (an indication of psoriatic arthritis)

Effects of psoriasis

If you have psoriasis it can be uncomfortable, embarrassing and affect your self-esteem. To reduce the visibility of flakes on your clothes, it is helpful to wear lighter coloured clothing, instead of dark colours. Women can be more affected by psoriasis psychologically than men.

Psoriasis can also affect your physical health. A number of people with psoriasis also develop a type of arthritis, called psoriatic arthritis.

What is psoriatic arthritis?

For an unknown reason, psoriasis can cause a form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis. The 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 (lower back), wrists, knees or ankles.

While there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, it can be managed with medications and by keeping active and exercising regularly. As with many types of arthritis, there could be flare-ups.

Psoriasis patients also have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you have psoriatic arthritis you may be referred to a rheumatologist, who specializes in arthritis, to decide the best course of treatment.

Treatment for psoriasis

While several treatment options exist for psoriasis, there is no cure for this skin condition. The type and strength of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Dermatologists may prescribe a range of treatments for the relief of psoriasis symptoms including:

• Topical psoriasis treatments including coal tar preparations, cortisone and other prescription creams
• Ultraviolet light therapy
• Systemic drug therapy including medications such as methotrexate, neotigason, cyclosporin and calcipotriol
• Lifestyle changes

Topical psoriasis treatments:

These treatments are usually the most popular treatment option for psoriasis with topical steroids and tar products being the most popular treatments. This psoriasis treatment involves applying creams and ointments to the affected area of skin. Some of these topical psoriasis treatments are available over the counter without a prescription.

The most effective creams contain a corticosteroid, which treats the immune system and the inflammatory response occurring in the region where the psoriasis lesions are. It is very important to seek the advice of your provider or dermatologist before you use a topical psoriasis treatment.

Other types of creams and ointments that are available include vitamin D (calcipotriol) creams, coal tar-based shampoos and creams and vitamin A treatments (retinoids). These have varying effectiveness with the treatment of psoriasis.

Light therapy (phototherapy) psoriasis treatment:

In moderate cases of psoriasis, UV light can be used to effectively treat psoriasis. Different types of UV light your dermatologist may use include PUVA (psoralen plus Ultraviolet A light) and Narrow Band UVB.

Systemic drug therapy:

This type of psoriasis treatment is usually used for people with severe cases of psoriasis. If you are prescribed oral medication for your psoriasis, it is very important to have regular check-ups with your dermatologist or doctor to monitor for side effects.

Lifestyle changes to treat psoriasis:

Smoking can make your psoriasis worse, so quitting (or the very least, cutting down) can help to control your psoriasis symptoms. It is also helpful to exercise regularly and eat a healthy and well-balanced diet.

Moisturizers may help improve your psoriasis and make it more comfortable. Because stress is a key factor for some people with psoriasis, learning to manage and reduce stress where possible can also be helpful.