Understanding What Psoriasis Means To You

There are five types of psoriasis that can affect your skin. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis and is characterized by red patches of skin that has raised lesions that are covered with silvery-white scale. These plaques can appear on the elbows, knees, and also the lower back. Guttate psoriasis looks like small, red spots on the skin. Pustular psoriasis is pus filled pimples on the skin surrounded by red skin. Inverse psoriasis is smooth in appearance, red lesions that appear in the folds of your skin. Erythrodermic psoriasis appears in large areas of the skin, itches severely and is painful.

Those with psoriasis feel discomfort during flare-ups. Affected skin may bleed, crack and itch. The discomfort can even keep the individual up at night. The pain can make everyday activities difficult. There is no cure for psoriasis. The disease is life-long and can have remissions followed by more flare-ups.

Treatment is designed around the severity and type of the psoriasis. Most individuals have it mild but some can be severe causing disability. Medications used are topical, oral or systemic. Light therapy using UV rays in the doctor's office can be done when medications are not effective.

Psoriasis is not contagious, so coming in contact with the skin or clothing of someone with psoriasis cannot give you the disease. Scientists and researchers believe that there is a genetic component to psoriasis, as it tends to run in families. Psoriasis typically first appears between the ages of 15 and 35 but it can appear at any age, even infants have been born with the disease.

Most of the individuals who contract psoriatic arthritis start out with psoriasis and later in life start the symptoms for arthritis. Only approximately 15% of those with psoriatic arthritis will develop the arthritis first and then later the psoriasis.

Psoriasis is actually one of the most oldest known skin conditions dating back to around 35 A.D. After all this time there is still no known cause for psoriasis. There has been much research done to help us understand more about the disease. Much of the research has been done on determining is there is immune system involvement so genes are studied as well as family history.

Psoriasis can have a major affect on the individual's life both physically and emotionally. Socially, psoriasis can be embarrassing and can make forming relationships difficult especially in the teen years. Studies show that anxiety; embarrassment, loneliness, low self-esteem and stress are common emotional factors for those with psoriasis. Those with psoriasis are 3 times higher than the general population for suicide.

Research is important not only to understand the disease but also to develop new therapies such as recent medication development with biologic agents. Biologic agents have shown to greatly improve the quality of life in those who have participated in these studies.

• Acne Psoriasis
• All You Want To Know About Psoriatic Arthritis
• Alternative Treatments For Psoriasis
• Answers To Some Of The Most Asked Questions About Psoriasis
• Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments For Psorasis
• Cures For Psoriasis
• Curious About Psoriasis?
• Depression And Psoriasis
• Early Death And Severe Psoriasis
• Facts About Psoriasis
• Finding All You Can About Psoriasis
• Information About Psoriasis For The Newly Diagnosed
• Living With Psoriasis
• Living With Psoriatic Arthritis
• Minimizing Psoriasis Flare-ups
• Natural Ways To Relieve Psoriasis
• Prevention Of Psoriasis
• Psoriasis And Children
• Psoriasis And Heart Disease
• Psoriasis And Its Causes
• Psoriasis And Other Skin Disorders
• Psoriasis And Phototherapy Programs
• Psoriasis And Scaling Diseases
• Psoriasis And Your Body Parts
• Psoriasis And Your Child
• Psoriasis And Your Child
• Psoriasis Eczema
• Psoriasis In Adults
• Psoriasis Statistics
• Psoriasis - What You Should Know
• Psoriasis Is A Skin Disorder Which Is A Chronic And Recurring Condition That Varies In Severity From Minor Localized Patches To Completely Covering The Body. Psoriasis Is A Disease Which Commonly Affects The Skin And Joints And Causes Red Scaly Patches To Appear. These Scaly Patches, Called Psoriatic Plaques, Are Areas Of Inflammation And Excessive Skin Production And Commonly Take On A Silvery White Appearance. Psoriatic Skin Plaques Frequently Occur On The Skin Of The Knees And Elbows, But May Affect Any Area Including The Scalp. Psoriasis Is Believed To Be Non-contagious And Is Immune-mediated. Psoriasis Is A Lifelong Condition And There Is Currently No Cure However There Are Various Treatment Options Which Can Help To Control The Symptoms. Psoriasis Does Tend To Get Worse Over Time, But It Is Not Possible To Predict Who Will Go On To Develop Extensive Psoriasis Or Those In Whom The Disease May Appear To Vanish.
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Relating To Someone With Psoriasis
• Scalp Psoriasis
• Signs And Symptoms Of Psoriasis
• Skin Cell Psoriasis
• Specific Psoriasis Treatments
• Surviving The Seasons With Psoriasis
• Surviving The Teen Years With Psoriasis
• Symptoms And Triggers Associated With Psoriasis
• The Emotional Toll Of Psoriasis
• The Facts Of Psoriasis
• The Many Different Psoriasis Treatments
• Treating Psoriasis
• Treatment Choices For Psoriasis
• Treatment Options For Psoriasis
• Triggers That Start Psoriasis Flare-ups Vary
• Types Of Psoriasis
• Understanding Psoriasis
• Understanding The Terms Your Doctor May Use When Discussing Psoriasis
• Understanding What Psoriasis Means To You
• Understanding Your Psoriasis
• What Are The Causes Of Psoriasis?
• What Can I Do To Prevent My Next Psoriasis Flare-up?
• What Causes Psoriasis?
• What Do You Know About Psoriasis?
• What Is Psoriasis?
• What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
• Your Lifestyle And Psoriasis
• Youth With Psoriasis