Symptoms of redness and thickening of the skin on the body can be a sign of Psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the appearance of red, scaly marks on the skin due to abnormal replacement of skin cells and usually causes itching and pain in sufferers. In general, the process of replacing skin cells will take approximately 1 month. However, in psoriasis sufferers it will only last a few days. This chronic condition can occur in all parts of the body, but is most often found on the scalp, elbows, knees and lower back.
Even though Psoriasis is a common skin condition, it is still not widely understood by most people. This condition can have a significant impact on a person's life, such as affecting self-confidence, interpersonal relationships and general well-being . By understanding the symptoms, causes and available treatments, a person can manage the condition more effectively and prevent potentially serious complications that can occur. More details will be discussed in the following article :
What Causes Psoriasis?
The exact cause of psoriasis is not yet known. However, it is thought that psoriasis occurs due to a disorder of the immune system which attacks healthy skin cells. Apart from that, there are other trigger factors that can increase the risk of psoriasis, such as:
- Stress
- Hereditary factors
- Injuries to the skin
- Environment
- Consuming alcoholic beverages
- Obesity
- Bacterial/viral infections (streptococcus, HIV)
- Smoke
- Taking high blood pressure medicines and antimalarial medicines
- Throat infection
You need to know that anyone, including children, can experience Psoriasis. This disease is not spread through contact. Therefore, direct contact with the rash on an infected person's skin will not result in the transmission of Psoriasis to other people.
Psoriasis Symptoms
The symptoms that occur can vary from person to person and also depend on the type of psoriasis they are experiencing. In general, the symptoms that appear include:
- Red patches and silvery white scales appear on the skin.
- Itching and burning sensation that causes discomfort.
- The skin is dry and cracked and sometimes bleeds.
- Joint pain and stiffness.
- Nails thicken unevenly.
Furthermore, specifically the differences in symptoms that arise will refer to the type of psoriasis the sufferer suffers from, such as:
- Plaque psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of a red, scaly skin rash all over the body.
- Nail psoriasis can cause changes in nail color and growth.
- Scalp psoriasis can cause thick, itchy scales all over the scalp, and there can even be a wide rash around it.
- Inversion psoriasis often occurs in folded areas such as the armpits with a rash appearing around them.
- Guttate psoriasis resembles a water droplet-like rash and usually appears on the arms, legs, skin and upper body.
How to Treat and Prevent Psoriasis
Treatment for Psoriasis aims to relieve symptoms and not to eliminate the disease. There are several alternative options that can help to relieve Psoriasis symptoms depending on the level of symptoms and age of the sufferer, such as:
- Apply cream, ointment, or lotion to the rash.
- Perform ultraviolet light therapy with the aim of reducing inflammation and slowing the rapid growth of skin cells
- Take medication recommended by a doctor for sufferers of severe psoriasis.
Avoiding factors that trigger psoriasis is the main step that can be taken to prevent getting psoriasis. Due to differences in trigger factors and symptoms that arise in sufferers, provide appropriate treatment according to doctor's recommendations so as not to cause discomfort to the skin.
Article written by dr. Pipim S. Bayasari, Sp.DV (Dermatology Venereology Specialist at EMC Sentul Hospital).