Psoriasis
Psoriasis
is a chronic skin disease that causes skin cells to grow too quickly. In
psoriasis, patches of red, thickened skin with silvery scales develop, usually
on the elbows, knees, scalp, and trunk. These areas can be itchy and painful.
The areas usually involved are the elbows, knees, and the skin behind the ears,
the trunk, and the scalp. The disease may also affect the underarms and genital
areas.
Nails may become rough and pitted, and less commonly, a form of arthritis
develops called psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis can be a persistent problem, and
tends to run in families. Stress, infections such as a sore throat, reaction to
certain drugs, and skin injuries may trigger an attack or make it worse.
Symptoms of Psoriasis
Following are the major psoriasis symptoms:
1. Red and irritated skin with bright silvery scales
2. Sometimes accompanied with slight itching
Causes of Psoriasis
Following are the major psoriasis causes:
1. Due to abnormality in the mechanism in which the skin grows and replaces
itself
2. Abnormality with the metabolism of amino acids
3. Use of certain medicines
4. Due to infections
5. Heredity factors are also responsible
6. Physical and emotional stress
Plaque
psoriasis
·
Psoriasis is
a very diverse skin disease that appears in a variety of forms. Each form has
distinct characteristics. Typically, people have only one type of psoriasis at
a time, but occasionally two or more different types of psoriasis can occur at
the same time. Psoriasis can also occasionally change from one form to another.
Trigger factors may "convert" some forms of psoriasis, such as
plaque, to another form, such as pustular. Generally, one type of psoriasis
will clear and then another form of psoriasis will appear later.
·
Plaque
psoriasis is the most prevalent form of the disease. Its scientific name is
psoriasis vulgaris (vulgaris means common). It is characterized by raised,
inflamed, red lesions covered by a silvery white scale. It is typically found
on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back.
Guttate psoriasis
·
Guttate
psoriasis is a form of psoriasis that often starts in childhood or young
adulthood. The word guttate is from the Latin word meaning "drop."
This form of psoriasis resembles small, red, individual spots on the skin.
Guttate lesions usually appear on the trunk and limbs. These spots are not
usually as thick as plaque lesions.
·
Guttate
psoriasis often comes on quite suddenly. A variety of conditions have been
known to bring on an attack of guttate psoriasis, including upper respiratory
infections, streptococcal infections, tonsillitis, stress, injury to the skin
and the administration of certain drugs (including anti malarial and
beta-blockers). A streptococcal infection of the throat (strep throat) is a
common guttate psoriasis trigger. Strep throat can be present without symptoms
and can still cause a flare of guttate psoriasis. Talk with your doctor about
getting a strep test to determine if you have an underlying strep infection.
Guttate psoriasis may persist despite clearance of the strep infection. Some
doctors prescribe antibiotics to help prevent an occurrence of an infection
that can cause the outbreak of guttate psoriasis.
Inverse
psoriasis
·
Inverse
psoriasis is found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in other skin
folds around the genitals and the buttocks. This type of psoriasis first shows
up as lesions that are very red and usually lack the scale associated with
plaque psoriasis. It may appear smooth and shiny. Inverse psoriasis is
particularly subject to irritation from rubbing and sweating because of its
location in skin folds and tender areas. It is more common and troublesome in
overweight people and people with deep skin folds.
Erythrodermic
psoriasis
·
Erythrodermic
psoriasis is a particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects
most of the body surface. It may occur in association with von Zumbusch
pustular psoriasis. It is characterized by periodic, widespread, fiery redness
of the skin. The erythema (reddening) and exfoliation (shedding) of the skin
are often accompanied by severe itching and pain.
·
Patients
having an erythrodermic psoriasis flare should make an appointment to see a
doctor immediately. Erythrodermic psoriasis causes protein and fluid loss that
can lead to severe illness. Oedema (swelling from fluid retention), especially
around the ankles, may also develop along with infection. The body's
temperature regulation is often disrupted, producing shivering episodes.
Infection, pneumonia and congestive heart failure brought on by erythrodermic
psoriasis can be life threatening. People with severe cases of this condition
often require hospitalization.
·
Known
triggers of erythodermic psoriasis include abrupt withdrawal of systemic
treatment; the use of systemic steroids (cortisone); an allergic, drug-induced
rash that brings on the Koebner response (a tendency for psoriasis to appear on
the site of skin injuries); and severe sunburns.
Pustular
psoriasis
·
Primarily
seen in adults, pustular psoriasis is characterized by white pustules (blisters
of non-infectious pus) surrounded by red skin. The pus consists of white blood
cells. It is not an infection, nor is it contagious. It may be localized to
certain areas of the body–for example, the hands and feet. Pustular psoriasis
also can be generalized, covering most of the body. It tends to go in a
cycle–reddening of the skin followed by formation of pustules and scaling.
·
Pustular
psoriasis reportedly may be triggered by internal medications, irritating
topical agents, overexposure to UV light, pregnancy, systemic steroids,
infections, emotional stress and sudden withdrawal of systemic medications or
potent topical steroids.
Types of
pustular psoriasis
Von Zumbusch
·
The onset of
von Zumbusch pustular psoriasis can be abrupt. Widespread areas of reddened
skin develop, and the skin becomes painful and tender. Within a few hours, the
pustules appear. The pustules then dry and peel over the next 24 to 48 hours,
leaving the skin with a glazed, smooth appearance. A fresh crop of pustules may
then appear. Eruptions often come in repeated waves that last days or weeks.
·
Von Zumbusch
pustular psoriasis rarely appears in children, although when it does, the
prospect of improvement may be much better than for adults.
·
Von Zumbusch
pustular psoriasis is associated with fever, chills, severe itching,
dehydration, a rapid pulse rate, exhaustion, anaemia, weight loss and muscle
weakness. The goal of treatment is to restore the skin's barrier function,
prevent further loss of fluid, stabilize the body's temperature and restore the
skin's chemical balance. Chemical imbalances can put excessive stress on the
heart and kidneys, especially in older people.
·
Because this
form can be life-threatening, medical care must begin immediately. If you can't
get in to see your doctor, you should go to the emergency room to get
treatment. People with von Zumbusch pustular psoriasis often require
hospitalization for rehydration and initiation of topical and systemic
treatments, which typically include antibiotics.
Palmo-plantar
pustulosis
·
Palmo-plantar
pustulosis (PPP) is a type of pustular psoriasis that causes pustules on the
palms of the hands and soles of the feet. PPP is characterized by multiple
pencil eraser-sized pustules in fleshy areas of the hands and feet, such as the
base of the thumb and the sides of the heels. The pustules appear in a studded
pattern throughout reddened plaques of skin, then turn brown, peel and become
crusted. The course of PPP is usually cyclical, with new crops of pustules
followed by periods of low activity.
·
Those who are
at risk for PPP should seriously consider not smoking, as some studies suggest
that these patients may have an abnormal response to nicotine which can trigger
flares of PPP.
Acropustulosis
(acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau)
·
This rare
type of psoriasis is characterized by skin lesions on the ends of the fingers
and sometimes on the toes. The eruption occasionally starts after an injury to
the skin or infection. Often the lesions are painful and disabling, producing
deformity of the nails. Occasionally bone changes occur in severe cases. This
form has traditionally been hard to treat. Topical preparations that are
occluded may help some patients. Systemic medications have been used with some
success in clearing the lesions and restoring the nails.
Genital
psoriasis
·
Psoriasis
can occur in the genital area at the same time it occurs elsewhere on the body,
or it can appear in the genital area only. People with genital psoriasis may
have affected areas that range from small, red spots to large patches.
·
The most
common type of psoriasis in the genital region is inverse psoriasis.
Scalp
psoriasis
·
Scalp
psoriasis is very common. In fact, at least half of all people who have
psoriasis have it on their scalp. As with psoriasis elsewhere on the body, skin
cells grow too quickly on the scalp and cause red lesions covered with scale to
appear.
·
Scalp
psoriasis can be very mild, with slight, fine scaling. It can also be very
severe with thick, crusted plaques covering the entire scalp, which commonly
can cause hair loss. Psoriasis can extend beyond the hairline onto the
forehead, the back of the neck and around the ears (a common area). Most of the
time, people with scalp psoriasis have psoriasis on other parts of their body
as well. But for some, the scalp is the only affected area.
Homeopathy medicines works well for
Psoriasis,
Psoriasis Homeopathy
Treatment
Symptomatic Homeopathy works well for Psoriasis,
So its good to consult a experienced Homeopathy physician without any
hesitation.
Whom to contact for Psoriasis Treatment
Dr.Senthil
Kumar Treats many cases of Psoriasis, In his medical professional experience
with successful results. Many patients get relief after taking treatment from
Dr.Senthil Kumar. Dr.Senthil Kumar visits Chennai at Vivekanantha
Homeopathy Clinic, Velachery, Chennai 42. To get appointment please call
9786901830, +91 94430 54168 or mail to consult.ur.dr@gmail.com,
For
more details & Consultation Feel free to contact us.
Vivekanantha Clinic Consultation Champers
at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please Call us or Mail Us
For appointment: SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number - Problem in Single word -
date and day - Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini – 30 - 99xxxxxxx0 – Psoriasis, – 21st
Oct, Sunday - Chennai ), You will receive Appointment details through SMS
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