What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) disease in which the immune system works too much, causing patches of skin to become scaly and inflamed. Most often, psoriasis affects the:

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• Scalp.
• Elbows.
• Knees.

The symptoms of psoriasis can sometimes go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months followed by times when they subside (or go into remission).

Aug 07, 2013 Living with psoriasis can be difficult enough, but new research suggests sufferers may be at a higher risk for other serious diseases affecting vital organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys. Interstitial lung disease 1. Only thought to affect around 2% of patient with psoriasis; may be seen as ground-glass and/or irregular linear (reticular) opacitices in the bilateral lower lobes; pulmonary nodules. Occasionally reported 2; Pulmonary changes may also occur in some patients treated for psoriasis with medications such as. Psoriasis, a skin disorder, may cause itchiness and discomfort. Plaque psoriasis, the most common type, causes thick, scaly patches of skin. While there is no cure, psoriasis treatment can keep symptoms.

If you have psoriasis, you may have a higher risk of getting other serious conditions, including:

• Psoriatic arthritis.
• Heart attack or stroke.
• Mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Who gets psoriasis?

Anyone can get psoriasis, but it is more common in adults than in children. It affects men and women equally.

What are the types of psoriasis?

There are different types of psoriasis, but the most common kind isplaque psoriasis. It appears as raised, red patches of skin that are covered by silvery-white scales. The patches usually develop in the same pattern on both sides of the body and tend to appear on the:

• Scalp.
• Trunk.
• Limbs, especially the elbows and knees.

What are the symptoms of psoriasis?

Symptoms of psoriasis can be different for each person, but some common ones are:

• Patches of thick, red skin with silvery-white scales that itch or burn.
• Dry, cracked skin that itches or bleeds.
• Thick, ridged, pitted nails.

The symptoms of psoriasis tend to come and go. You may find that there are times when your symptoms get worse, called flares, followed by times when you feel better (remission).

Some patients have a related condition called psoriatic arthritis, in which you have stiff, swollen, painful joints. If you have symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, be sure to tell your doctor as soon as you can.

What causes psoriasis?

In psoriasis, your body’s immune system starts working too much and causing problems. Doctors do not fully understand what triggers the immune system, but they know that it involves genes and environmental factors. Many people with psoriasis have a family history of the disease.

Other factors that may increase the chances of developing psoriasis include:

• Some types of infections.
• Certain medicines.
• Smoking.
• Obesity.

Psoriasis Symptoms And Treatments

Is there a test for psoriasis?

To see if you have psoriasis, your doctor usually examines your skin, scalp, and nails for signs of the condition. They may also ask questions about your health and history.

This information can help the doctor figure out if you have psoriasis, and, if so, identify which type. To rule out other skin conditions that look like psoriasis, your doctor may take a small skin sample to look at under a microscope.

How is psoriasis treated?

While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, there are treatments that keep symptoms under control so that you can perform daily activities and sleep better. Your treatment may include:

• Medications you put on your skin—such as creams, ointments, lotions, foams, or solutions—or others that are injected or taken by mouth.
• Phototherapy, where your doctor shines an ultraviolet light on your skin in their office.

Who treats psoriasis?

Psoriasis is treated by:

• Dermatologists, who specialize in conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. You may want to find a dermatologist that specializes in treating psoriasis.

Other health care providers who may be involved in your care include:

• Mental health professionals, who provide counseling and treat mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
• Primary health care providers, including family doctors, internists, or pediatricians.

Living with psoriasis

Psoriasis can affect your day-to-day life, including work and sleep. However, doctors can work with you to help reduce the symptoms. Here are some things you can do:

• Bathe in lukewarm water and use mild soap that has added oils. After bathing, put on heavy moisturizing lotions while your skin is still damp.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• If you smoke, work with your doctor to make a plan to quit.
• Moderate your use of alcohol.
• Expose your skin to small amounts of sunlight. Limited sunlight can alleviate symptoms, but too much can make them worse, so consult your doctor for advice.
• Try to identify things that trigger psoriasis flares and work to avoid them. Some people have found that stress, cold weather, skin injuries, certain medicines, and infections spark flares.
• Join a support group or visit a mental health provider. Psoriasis can affect a person’s mental health, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression. Seeking out support can help you learn more about coping and living with the disease.

For more info

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Toll free: 888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332)
Website: https://www.fda.gov

For additional information on specific medications, visitDrugs@FDA at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf. Drugs@FDA is a searchable catalog of FDA-approved drug products.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
Website: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs

American Academy of Dermatology
Website: http://www.aad.org

Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Website: http://www.pedsderm.net Hoi4 equestria at war reddit.

National Psoriasis Foundation
Website: http://www.psoriasis.org

If you need more information about available resources in your language or other languages, please visit our webpages below or contact the NIAMS Information Clearinghouse at NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov.

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2020.

• Health Guide

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that causes scaling and inflammation.

Psoriasis may develop as a result of an abnormality in the body's immune system. The immune system normally fights infection and allergic reactions.

Psoriasis probably has a genetic component. Nearly half of patients have family members with psoriasis.

Certain medications may trigger psoriasis. Other medications seem to make psoriasis worse in people who have the disease.

Symptoms

Psoriasis causes skin scaling and inflammation. It may or may not cause itching. There are several types of psoriasis:

• Plaque psoriasis. In plaque psoriasis, there are rounded or oval patches (plaques) of affected skin. These are usually red and covered with a thick silvery scale. The plaques often occur on the elbows, knees, scalp or near the buttocks. They may also appear on the trunk, arms and legs.
• Inverse psoriasis. Inverse psoriasis is a plaque type of psoriasis that tends to affect skin creases. Creases in the underarm, groin, buttocks, genital areas or under the breast are particularly affected. The red patches may be moist rather than scaling.
• Pustular psoriasis. The skin patches are studded with pimples or pustules.
• Guttate psoriasis. In guttate psoriasis, many small, red, scaly patches develop suddenly and simultaneously. Guttate psoriasis often occurs in a young person who has recently had strep throat or a viral upper respiratory infection.

About half of people with skin symptoms of psoriasis also have abnormal fingernails. Their nails are often thick and have small indentations, called pitting.

A type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis affects some people with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis may occur before skin changes appear.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will look for the typical skin and nail changes of this disorder. He or she can frequently diagnose psoriasis based on your physical examination.

When skin symptoms are not typical of the disorder, your doctor may recommend a skin biopsy. In a biopsy, a small sample of skin is removed and examined in a laboratory. The biopsy can confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible skin disorders.

Expected Duration

Lungs And Psoriasis Fast Week Pregnancy

Psoriasis is a long-term disorder. However, symptoms may come and go.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent psoriasis.

Treatment

Treatment for psoriasis varies depending on the:

• Type of psoriasis
• Amount and location of affected skin
• Risks and benefits of each type of treatment

Treatments for psoriasis include:

• Topical treatments. These are treatments applied directly to the skin.
  • Daily skin care with emollients for lubrication. These include petroleum jelly or unscented moisturizers.
  • Corticosteroid creams, lotions and ointments. These may be prescribed in medium and high-strength forms for stubborn plaques on the hands, feet, arms, legs and trunk. They may be prescribed in low-strength forms for areas of delicate skin such as the face.
  • Calcipotriol (Dovonex) slows production of skin scales.
  • Tazarotene (Tazorac) is a synthetic vitamin A derivative.
  • Coal tar
  • Salicylic acid to remove scales
• Phototherapy. Extensive or widespread psoriasis may be treated with light. Phototherapy uses ultraviolet B or ultraviolet A, alone or in combination with coal tar.
  • A treatment called PUVA combines ultraviolet A light treatment with an oral medication that improves the effectiveness of the light treatment.
  • Laser treatment also can be used. It allows treatment to be more focused so that higher amounts of UV light can be used.
• Vitamin A derivatives. These are used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis involving large areas of the body. These treatments are very powerful. Some have the potential to cause severe side effects. It's essential to understand the risks and be monitored closely.
• Immunosuppressants. These drugs work by suppressing the immune system. They are used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis involving large areas of the body.
• Antineoplastic agents. More rarely, these drugs (which are most often used to treat cancer cells) may be prescribed for severe psoriasis.
• Biologic therapies. Biologics are newer agents used for psoriasis that has not responded to other treatments. Psoriasis is caused, in part, by substances made by the immune system that cause inflammation. Biologics act against these substances. Biologic treatments tend to be quite expensive.

When To Call a Professional

If you are unsure whether you have psoriasis, contact your doctor. Also contact your doctor if you have psoriasis and are not doing well with over-the-counter treatment.

Prognosis

For most patients, psoriasis is a long-term condition.

There is no cure. But there are many effective treatments.

In some patients, doctors may switch treatments every 12 to 24 months. This prevents the treatments from losing their effectiveness and decreases the risk of side effects.

Learn more about Psoriasis

Associated drugs

IBM Watson Micromedex

Mayo Clinic Reference

Medicine.com Guides (External)

External resources

National Psoriasis Foundation
http://www.psoriasis.org/

American Academy of Dermatology

Can Psoriasis Affect Lungs

Further information

Lungs And Psoriasis Fast Week Treatment

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