What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the skin. This results in rashes with itchy, scaly patches on different parts of the body, more commonly the knee, elbows, and scalp. Psoriasis is a common, chronic disease with no cure and tends to go through cycles, flaring up for a period ranging from weeks to months before going into remission.
Types of Psoriasis
- Plaque psoriasis: The most common type of psoriasis. The majority of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis.
- Inverse psoriasis: This type of psoriasis appears in your skin folds and causes thin plaques without scales.
- Guttate psoriasis: Guttate psoriasis may appear after a sore throat caused by a steptococcal infection. It often affects children and young adults, and presents as small, red, drop-shaped scaly spots.
- Erythrodermic psoriasis: A severe form of psoriasis that affets a large area of your skin.
What are the symptoms of Psoriasis?
Symptoms of psoriasis include plaques, which could look like:
- Raised areas of thick skin
- Rashes
- Discoloured skin
- Scaly or flaky patches of skin that sheds easily
Early signs of psoriasis is small bumps. Over time, the bumps grow, and scales form on top. If you attempt to scratch the rash, the scales might tear away from the skin and cause bleeding. You may also experience pitted, cracked or crumbly nails. Symptoms of psoriasis can range from mild to severe.
What causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is the result of an over-reactive immune system that causes inflammation in your skin. If you have psoriasis, your immune system is supposed to destroy bacteria and viruses to keep you healthy. However, with psoriasis, your immune system mistakes your healthy cells for foreign invaders, resulting in inflammation or swelling.
It usually takes approximately a month for new skin cells to grow and replace old skin cells. However, with psoriasis, this timeline is shortened to three to four days, with this new speed of new cells replacing old cells creating scaly and flaky skin, and frequent skin shedding.
Psoriasis runs in the family and you have a higher chance of developing it if your parents also have the condition.
What complications does Psoriasis have?
If you have psoriasis, you have a greater risk of developing the following conditions:
- Psoriatic arthritis which causes pain, stiffness, swelling in and around the joints.
- Temporary skin colour changes where plaques have healed.
- Eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis and uveitis
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular disease
How do you manage Psoriasis?
Try these self-care methods to better care for your psoriasis:
- Take daily baths and wash your skin gently with lukewarm water and mild soaps rather than scrubbing your skin.
- Keep your skin moist by applying moisteriser daily. For very dry skin, oils or heavy ointment-based moisterisers are preferred as they stay on the skin longer than creams or lotions do. If the air where you live is very dry, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
- Cover the affected areas overnight before going to bed with plastic wrap. When you wake, remove the plastic and wash away scales.
- Expose your skin to small amounts of sunlight as controlled amount of sunlight may improve your psoriasis. It is best to ask your healthcare provider about the best way to do so. Too much sun light may trigger or worsen outbreaks and increase your risk of skin cancer.
- Avoid scratching by applying an anti-itch cream or ointment containing hydrocortisone or salicylic acid. Keep your nails trimmed so that they won't hurt your skin if you do scratch.
- Avoid your psoriasis triggers by taking steps to prevent or avoid it. Infections, injuries, smoking and exposure to the sun may all worsen your psoriasis.
How is Psoriasis diagnosed?
Physical Examination
Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your health and exmine your skin, scalp and nails. They may also take a sample of your skin for examination under a microscope.
