My Personal Battle

Psoriasis is a highly visible, non contagious, long lasting skin disease affecting both men and women and appears on the skin in the form of red scales that can sometimes be very itchy.

The most common form, i.e. plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, called scale.

While the itchiness and pain can be unpleasant, some of the worst effects of psoriasis is emotional. Sufferers of psoriasis sometimes feel self-conscious, isolated and depressed.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure. But there are several effective treatments that can help keep the condition under control.
Psoriasis is not contagious but can be inherited. There are different types of the condition but the majority of all cases are plaque psoriasis.



Guttate Psoriasis
• Affects children, teenagers and young adults.
• Often appear after a bacterial infection such as strep throat.
• Red, scaly, round spots on the skin.
• Usually over the abdomen, arms, legs and scalp.
• May go away without treatment in a few weeks.

Causes Of Psoriasis
• Experts are not sure what exactly causes psoriasis.
Psoriasis of the skin and nails may look like a rash or fungus, but you can’t catch it from another person. You also can’t give it to anyone else or spread it from one part of your body to another by touch.
• Statistics show that about one-third of people who have psoriasis have one or more family members with the condition. It is therefore likely that psoriasis is inherited. However, it is believed that genetic factors alone do not determine whether you develop psoriasis.
• Although psoriasis usually appears as a skin condition, recent discoveries show that its real cause is a problem with the immune system. This is because increased numbers of white blood cells are present between the abnormal layers of skin and because psoriasis responds to drugs that suppress the immune system.

Psoriasis Treatment Options
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have no cure, but many different therapies can reduce, or nearly stop their symptoms. No single treatment works for everyone, but something is likely to work in most cases.

Topical Treatments
Normally applied directly to the skin, slow down or normalize excessive cell reproduction and reduce inflammation associated with psoriasis.

Phototherapy
Involves exposing the skin to wavelengths of ultraviolet light under medical supervision. Present in natural sunlight, ultraviolet B (UVB) penetrates the skin and slows the abnormally rapid growth of skin cells associated with psoriasis.
This form of treatment can be used by adults and children, and can be effective used aloe or in combination with other treatment options.

Systemic Treatment
Psoriasis that is resistant to topical treatment and phototherapy is treated by medications that are taken internally by pill or injection. This is called systemic treatment. Patients undergoing systemic treatment are required to have regular blood and liver function tests because f the toxicity of the medication.

Alternative Therapy
Balneothrapy, or water based treatments involving natural thermal springs, hot springs, mineral water or seawater, is widely used throughout Europe and Asia. Climatotherapy is a term used to describe the combination of natural sunlight and water, such as the ocean or other bodies of water to treat psoriasis.

Preventing Psoriasis
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent psoriasis but here are ways you can improve your symptoms or help reduce the number flare-ups:
• Keep your skin moist and lubricated.
• Avoid cold, dry climates.
• Avoid scratching and picking skin and skin injuries (cuts or scrapes).
• Avoid stress and anxiety.
• Avoid infections such as strep throat, especially in children.
• Try to avoid certain medication including beta blockers and lithium.
• Limit your alcohol intake.
• Don’t smoke.