Psoriasis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Causes of Psoriasis

To combat this attack, the skin reproduces cells faster and pushes them to the outer layer of the skin. Because the cells currently on the skin’s surface haven’t had sufficient time to slough off, they build up in to thick, scaly red lesions on the skin’s surface.

As researchers continue to look into the precise causes of psoriasis, many theorize that this skin disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Some of the risk factors that may contribute to the development of psoriasis include:

• alcoholism
• cold climates
• medications, specifically lithium and blood pressure medications
• skin damage in the form of sunburns, cuts or bug bits
• stress
• smoking
• thrush or strep throat infections.

Psoriasis Symptoms

• cracked skin that bleeds
• dry skin
• flakiness
• inflamed joints (namely at the elbows and knees)
• itchiness
• silvery scales
• thicker, ridged nails.

Depending on the severity of the case, psoriasis can cause anywhere from mild, dandruff-like flakes in a small area to severe blotches that consume vast areas of the body. While the less serious cases of psoriasis are more annoying because they are unsightly and embarrassing, serious cases of this skin disease can be so painful that they disable the affected individual.

Types of Psoriasis

• Erythrodermic psoriasis: Causing the entire body to be covered in itchy, burning rashes, erythrodermic psoriasis is generally brought on by serious sunburns. This is the least common form of psoriasis.
  
  
• Guttate psoriasis: Characterized by small, scaly sores on the extremities and scalp, guttate psoriasis is usually affects people under 30 who have experienced a bacterial infection (i.e. strep throat).
  
  
• Inverse psoriasis: Marked by swollen, smooth blotches of skin around the genitals and armpits, inverse psoriasis typically affects overweight people. Sweating can worsen inverse psoriasis.
  
  
• Plaque psoriasis: Characterized by silvery scales and red lesions (also known as plaques), plaque psoriasis can affect any part of the body. This is the most common type of psoriasis.

Other types of psoriasis include:

• nail psoriasis
• psoriasis arthritis
• scalp psoriasis.

Treatments for Psoriasis

Here are the three main psoriasis treatment methods, in order of mildest to strongest treatments:

• Topical treatments: Using certain creams and ointments alone can be effective for less serious cases of psoriasis. However, more serious psoriasis cases will call for topical treatments to be used in conjunction with other treatments. Topical treatments can include any one or combination of the following:
  
  
  • anthralin to slow down the accelerated skin cell lifecycle and reduce swelling
  • calcineurin inhibitors to decrease swelling and plaque buildup
  • coal tar to minimize itchiness, scaling and swelling
  • moisturizers to reinvigorate dry, scaling skin and reduce itchiness
  • topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and slow the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • topical retinoids to slow the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • Vitamin D analogues to reduce inflammation and slow the skin cells’ lifecycle.
    
    
  It's important to know that each of the above topical treatments has associated side effects. Talk to your doctor about each option and weigh the pros and cons of the associated side effects.

• Phototherapy: Also referred to as light therapy, phototherapy involves exposing affected skin to artificial or natural light. Phototherapy may be used alone or in conjunction with other psoriasis treatments. Effective types of phototherapy include:
  
  
  • excimer lasers that use UVB rays to reduce inflammation and eliminate scaly skin
  • narrowband UVB therapy that uses milder UVB rays administered in multiple treatments to reduce swelling and minimize pain and unsightly skin blotches
  • psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) that uses UVA rays to slow down the skin cells’ lifecycle and reduce embarassing skin blotches. This is also known as photochemotherapy.
  • sunlight that slows down the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • UVB phototherapy that uses UVB rays to treat.
    
    
  Like topical treatments for psoriasis, each type of phototherapy has associated side effects that you should weigh out with your doctor before you start one.

• Medications: When neither topical treatments nor phototherapy is effective at treating your psoriasis, your doctor may recommend that you take one of the following oral or injection medications:
  
  
  • azathioprine to reduce inflammation
  • cyclosporine to suppress the immune system and slow down the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • hydroxyurea to slow down the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • oimmunomodulator drugs to suppress the immune system and slow the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • o methotrexate to reduce inflammation, minimize joint pain and slow the skin cells’ lifecycle
  • retinoids to decrease the production of skin cells.
    
    
  Talk to your doctor about the side effects associated with each type of medication before starting any treatment.

As you begin treatment for psoriasis, doctors will start with the most gentle treatment options (i.e. topical treatments), slowly incorporating stronger treatments until the appropriate treatment is found. However, because psoriasis itself is a volatile disease and the skin can buildup a resistance to certain treatments, finding the right treatment that will remain effective can be difficult.

As a result, be sure to regularly communicate with your doctor. Tell him whether or not a particular treatment is working so that you can find the best treatment for you.

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