Among the many skin diseases that people know, the one condition that can probably draw much attention is the scaly, red patches on the skin. Patches that continually magnetize strange and bothersome and humiliating glances from other people. These red patches are inflamed plaques caused by psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that affects an estimated 2 to 3 percent of the world’s population. This is characterized by formation of scaly patches that is reddish in color. The part where such scales appear on the skin are called psoriatic plaques. These are inflammations and excess production of the skin. It is in these areas that the skin reproduces rapidly and results in a silvery-white appearance. Most common parts where these plaques form are the knees and elbows, but can also appear at the reproductive organs and scalp.

This illness occurs both in children and adults. This may manifest at any age, though people who have been diagnosed with this disease are between the ages of 15 to 35. No gender and specific race is safe from this as psoriasis can hit anyone. A psoriatic person’s skin has a higher amount of bacteria per square millimeter, so the risk of skin infection may pose to a certain level though not proven unless the inflicted person frequently rubs or scratches the affected area due to severe itching of the lesions.

Those with psoriasis may experience certain effects like hair fall. But this is not directly attributed to the illness as very thick scales in the scalp can entrap the hair. What happens is when the scales are attempted to be taken out, the hair goes along with it.

Psoriasis is a persisting illness which can be a minor condition where it can only cover a specific area in the body, or in worse cases, the whole body. Psoriasis comes in various forms. They can be pustular, plaque, flexural, or guttate.

Pustular Psoriasis is common to the hands and feet, also referred to as palmoplantar pustulosis. However, it can also appear arbitrarily in any part of the body. This type of psoriasis is characterized by bumps that are filled with pustules or pus, which are non-infectious. With the skin around each pus colored red and tender.

The most common type of this disease that appears as scaly, silvery-white skin is referred to as Plaque Psoriasis or Psoriasis Vulgaris. 80 to 90 percent of people infected with the disease have this type.

Infections which appear between the thigh and groin, armpits, breasts, and stomach is called Flexural Psoriasis. This appears as smooth, inflamed patches on the skin and is sensitive to fungal infections. Sweat and constant rubbing of skin surfaces (friction) aggravates this type.

Guttate Psoriasis on the other hand is described as small, teardrop-shaped spots which appears in groups. They grow on big areas of the body. They are the limbs, trunk, and scalp.

Even the fingernails can be susceptible to the symptoms of this disease. Nail Psoriasis or Psoriatic Nail Distrophy can cause the nails to be discoloured. An affected person may also experience pitting of the nails, thickening of the skin under the nails, and even crumbling of the nail.

An inflammation of the joints and the tissues that connect them is caused by Psoriatic Arthritis. This is most common in the fingers and toes. Affected areas may experience dactylitis, which is swelling of the fingers and toes. This can also spread to the hips, knees, and spine. A significant percentage (10-15%) of people with psoriasis have this type.

The most deadly type of psoriasis is the Erythrodermic Psoriasis. People affected with this type runs the risk of fatality when the severe inflammation and exfoliation affects and changes the body’s ability to control and regulate temperature and do its protective function. This involves the inflammation of the skin in most of the body’s surface. A person with this kind of condition may experience extreme itching and swelling.

The root cause of psoriasis is unknown. Various factors are believed to trigger the skin disease like stress, smoking, and much alcohol intake. Ironically, psoriasis is one of the longest known diseases. Early researchers have been mystified with this disease and mistakenly associated psoriasis as a type of leprosy. It was only until 1841 that the illness was given its own distinction. It was broken down into several types only in the 20th century.

However, there are some theories as to how the disease occurs and develops. One is that psoriasis is caused by excess production and development of the skin which has gone wrong. The problem lies in the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin and its keratinocytes. Another hypothesis views psoriasis as a problem with the immune system and the excessive reproduction of the skin comes in second. The cells which assists in protecting the body against infection becomes active and then go to the dermis. Once in the dermis, the cells triggers the discharge of cytokines and then causes the inflammation and the excessive reproduction of the skin.

Those who have had relatives with psoriasis are more likely to develop the disease, as researchers have found. Psoriasis has something to do with the genetics of a person. So, if one of a pair of twins had psoriasis, there is a 70% chance that the other twin will have it also.

Psoriasis is a disease that is mainly personal and distinctive. People who are suffering from this have experiences that may vary. A patient’s condition may improve or worsen for no reason at all. According to the World Psoriasis Day consortium, about 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis.

It is common for psoriasis patients to experience depression and suffer low self-esteem as caused by the humiliation from other people. People struck with this illness are those that experience discrimination and annoying glances from others because of the appearance of their skin. It is therefore important for inflicted people to be thoroughly educated about the condition they have. Also, they must have a very strong support system which can be found in family and friends, to let them feel that they are not any lesser because of the disease that they have. Likewise, people who encounter psoriatic patients must be made aware that infected persons didn’t ask to have the disease and that it is not contagious despite its chronic nature. A certain level of tolerance and respect is expected from those who do not have the condition.

People under this condition experience a negative impact on their lives, especially those whose psoriasis have covered a big part of their body. The disease also pose as a large problem for the patients.

Equally important as the psychological and emotional effects of psoriasis to a person is the physical and health limitations it brings. Inflicted individuals may experience discomfort and even disability on parts that are infected. When a person is under a lot of pain and itching, it may hinder him or her from doing the most basic tasks that he or she needs to do. It may serve as a detour for going to school or work, or even the simplest form of recreational activities. It also brings the same effects that other chronic diseases like hypertension, depression, diabetes, and heart failure bring.

A sad but important thing to note about psoriasis is that it is a lifelong condition. Something a patient and his or her family must remember so as not to give false hopes of becoming free from the disease. This is where awareness and education about the disease plays a major role and a strong, solid support system for the inflicted person is needed. There is no cure yet for the disease but there are some treatments to help control the illness.

In treating a patient with psoriasis, doctors usually implement a trial-and-error system to find the most suitable method for their patients. When the doctor has found one method that runs the least risk of severe reactions, they use it for the treatment.

It is significantly important for an inflicted person to maintain a healthy lifestyle as the disease is affected by smoking and excessive drinking. A person’s lifestyle along with age, gender, severity and extent of the infection is noted by the attending physician during treatment.

Among the several treatment methods are topical treatment, phototherapy, photo chemotherapy, systematic treatment.

In treating the illness topically, medicated creams and ointments are utilized. They are applied to the psoriatic plaques to minimize inflammation, reduce skin turn over and get rid of the scales and clear the plaque-affected areas. To help relieve the affected skin, the use of moisturizers is advised. Phototherapy requires the use of—yes, the sun. Short exposure to it, being careful not to burn the skin can improve psoriasis. Cases that are defiant to the previously mentioned methods are treated by ingesting certain pills or through injection, which is known as the systematic treatment.

For people who prefer and are looking for another route towards recovery, they can opt to try alternative methods like taking antibiotics, climatotherapy, or even herbology.

Psoriasis may destroy the skin’s natural smooth and normal appearance but it must not alter or even devastate one’s attitude towards life.