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What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatitis - disease that manifests on the skin. 2-3% of the Earth population suffers from psoriasis: ~ 120-180 Million People.
The word psoriasis is derived from the Greek word "psora" that means "itching".
Psoriasis is a chronic disease - it usually lasts for many years with periods of remissions and relapses.
Seasons often influence the course of psoriasis. The most common seasonal psoriasis type is Winter Psoriasis - psoriasis that gets worse in the winter and gets better in the summer.
Psoriasis is NOT Contagious. Many famous people, including Ben Franklin, Joseph Stalin, John Updike and many others had or have psoriasis.
The cycle of division and ripening of normal skin cells occurs in 25-30 days, with psoriasis this process proceeds in only 4-5 days. Due to the rapid build up of un-ripened skin cells there appear inflamed lesions covered with dense dead scales.
Psoriatic rash can be localized in any sections of the skin, but predominantly the plaques are symmetrically arranged on the elbows, knees, the extensor surfaces of extremities, on the body and the scalp.
Besides the skin psoriasis also can strike the nails and joints, and in very rare cases - the mucous membranes of the skin.
Psoriasis Causes are diverse, with the prevailing value of autoimmune and genetic factors:
- hyperproliferation - an abnormally high rate of skin cells division;
- keratinization disturbance - thickening of the epidermis by overproduction of keratin,
- inflammatory reactions in the skin etc.
Psoriasis in not a fatal disease, but it causes numerous problems for the sufferer - daily inconveniences, which influences the quality of life. Foremost these are external cosmetic imperfections, which limit the freedom of actions such as, the selection of hair style, clothing, and the manner of behavior.
People with psoriasis frequently suffer from inferiority complexes. Being troubled by their appearance, they are converted into "people in a box": rarely are they in public, and when they are they usually wear maximally closed clothing; even in the hot weather they may wear hats or long sleeve shirts or pants..
Furthermore, psoriasis may bring serious complications.
Relatively mild types of psoriasis include: Plaque Psoriasis (red lesions, covered with a silvery-white scales), Guttate Psoriasis (numerous small red drop-like spots) and Inverse Psoriasis (red smooth lesions located in the skin folds).
Severe types of psoriasis include: Pustular Psoriasis, Erythrodermic Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis.
In the case of Psoriatic Arthritis people start having pains in their joints. Further the joints may even become deformed.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis causes the body temperature to rise, causes swelling, chills and general health deterioration.
Pustular Psoriasis can be very painful, often has a heavy flow, may be accompanied by fever, and in some cases it may even require hospitalization.
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