Psoriasis Affects More Than Just the Upper Layer of Your Skin

Psoriasis is a disease that affects both skin and joints. It is mainly called a skin disease because it causes swelling and scaling of skin. This disease is known to be chronic recurring. Psoriasis causes thick, red spots or plaques with silvery - white scales. These can be often found on lower back, knees, elbows, soles of feet and on palms and are frequent in fingernails and toenails. Psoriasis is one of the longest known disease or illness of humans. The cause of the disease is not yet well known, but it affects both males and females at same rate. There are different types of psoriasis:

Plaque psoriasis: It appears as raised areas of skin which is inflamed.

Flexural psoriasis: It appears as smooth inflamed plaques on skin.

Guttate psoriasis: Numerous red spots over a large area.

Pustular psoriasis: Appears as raised bumps on pustules which are non-infectious

Nail psoriasis: Appears as discoloring nail plates or thickening of skin under nails.

Psoriatic arthritis: Is a connective tissue inflammation which affects joints.

These are some of the type of psoriasis found commonly. This disease is hard to be diagnosed. Treatment is done based on severity of the disease, size of psoriatic plaques and reaction of the patient on the disease.

Topical treatment of this disease is done with different ointments and creams. Bath solutions, moisturizers and lotions also give better results for the treatment of this disease. One treatment which is more effective on this disease is PUVA. It is combination of Psoralen and UltraVioletA light. Sometimes, combination therapy is used for the treatment of this disease. In combination therapy, two or more drugs are combined to form a new drug which reduces the red spots on the skin.

Some triggers such as stress, injury to skin, infection or scratches that can cause psoriasis. People who suffer from psoriasis develop lesions or red colored plaques on raised skin of dead skin cells. There are some natural remedies for the treatment of this disease such as usage of Aloe vera, primrose oil in cream or lotion form, fish oil and turmeric can also be used to relieve psoriasis.

Many times diagnosis of this disease is done through biopsy of the skin or by scraping. This disease is known to increase the chance of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or hyper tension.

Psoriasis sometimes is treated by taking it as excessive growth and reproduction of cells of skin and sometimes as immune - mediated disorder. Psoriasis is a type of idiosyncratic disease which includes bacterial or viral infection, any allergy due to weather or material, some medicines used or lack of Vitamin D, excess drinking of alcohol, and other liquids or the body is infected with cancer, AIDS or any other incurable disease.

An antibiotic, cream, lotion, or a moisturizer is prescribed to you by the dermatologists to prevent further spreading. Other measures such as taking more bath, usage of anti dandruff shampoo or moisturizers are also employed by dermatologists for the treatment of this disease.