What is Psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a common skin disorder which causes redness and irritation patches on the skin. The cause of skin psoriasis is still not known but genetic and environment factors are linked to this psoriatic skin disorder and a faulty immune system plays a key role in contracting psoriasis. Bullet point explanation about psoriasis is given below.
About Psoriasis.
- Psoriasis is very common.
- As mentioned above, it is an auto immune disease.
- It is chronic and persistent.
- There is no cure for psoriasis. Treatment is purely for symptomatic relief. (for relief from symptoms).
- It is not contagious. That means it does not spread by contact or by any other means.
- Patches of psoriatic skin become dry, red, thickened, itchy, painful and irritated. Silver colored scales are formed on the skin.
- During a lifetime, there are periods of remission followed by aggravation of the condition.
- Psoriasis can be associated with arthritis, which is called psoriatic arthritis. This is associated with pain and swelling of the joints and can be disabling.
Pathophysiology of Psoriasis.
Skin Psoriasis is characterized by skin cells multiplying ten times faster than normal. As explained in epidermis, the cells move from the lower layer of the epidermis (where they are formed) to the upper layer of the epidermis. The uppermost layer of the epidermis consists of dead skin cells. This migration of skin cells normally takes 4 to 6 weeks. In psoriasis, this period is reduced to only 2 weeks.
As a result of this fast multiplication and fast migration of the skin cells, there is accumulation of dead cells on the outermost surface of the skin. This excessive volume of dead skin cells on the outermost layer of the epidermis causes the silver or whitish flakes of psoriasis on the skin.
Picture of normal skin and psoriatic skin.
(Click on image to enlarge)
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