Psoriasis is a common skin disorder that has affected people worldwide for centuries. It is a non-contagious disorder that affects the skin or joints. Psoriasis is characterized by periodic flare-ups of red inflamed patches on the skin, which are often itchy and painful.
Although psoriasis is most common with adults, it may strike at any age, including childhood. While the exact cause of psoriasis remains unknown, scientist believe that it is related to the immune system and caused by a combination of other factors related to genetic and environmental influences.
Scientist believe psoriasis to be related to the immune system because of white blood cells, known as T-cells. Normally, T-cells in the body detect and fight off foreign substances. However, psoriasis causes the T-cells to attack healthy skin cells by mistake. These T-cells trigger immune responses that cause the increased production of healthy skin cells and more T-cells.
The result is the outermost layer of skin too fast. Dead skin and white blood cells aren't able to move off quickly enough, and the patches appear on the skin. It is still unknown, what causes the T-cells to malfunction but, scientist believe that it may also be connected with other influences.
Genetic influences have been linked to psoriasis because of a strong correlation of the development of psoriasis with families who have a family history of psoriasis. If you have one parent with psoriasis, you have a 25% chance of getting it too.
If both your parents have it, your chances are more than 50%. On the other hand, many people with no family history of psoriasis often develop the disorder. Therefore, other influences must be looked at also.
Environmental influences that cause psoriasis include triggers such as weather, stress, infections, injuries, and certain medications. Weather is thought to be a trigger because cold, dry weather commonly causes psoriasis flare-ups, while hot, damp, sunny weather makes psoriasis symptoms better. Stress, repressed anger, and emotional disorders are considered to be a trigger because they are commonly associated with frequent psoriasis flare-ups. Many people have also reported having a traumatic experience that brought on a psoriasis flare-up due to stress.
Infections caused by viruses or bacteria often trigger psoriasis flare-ups, such as HIV, strep throat, sinusitis, and tonsilitis. Skin injuries are associated triggers because mild injuries to the skin such as abrasions, bug bites, and severe sunburns can cause flare-ups to form anywhere on the body including the site of the injuries.
Medications are also another common trigger of psoriasis. The following medications are known to either worsen psoriasis or induce a flare-up: Chloroquine ACE inhibitors such as monopril or captopril, Beta blockers such as Lopressor or Atenolol, Progesterone, Lithium, and Indocin.
Although psoriasis is a lifelong disorder, individuals should not suffer in silence. Millions of individuals all over the world have psoriasis. It has been seen in all races, ages, and both in males and females equally. It can be treated and there are many treatments available for helping get control over the psoriasis.
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