Ananda Mahony
NaomiPsoriasis – a scaly problem (LINK)
August 21st 2008 03:19
Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease of scaling and inflammation that affects about 1 to 5% of the population worldwide. Itching and abnormal flushing are also common features. Primarily affecting adults, psoriasis is caused by an accelerated skin cell turn over. Normally a skin cell matures in 21-28 days during its passage to the surface where dead skin cells slough off revealing new skin cells. With psoriatic skin cells, the journey to the surface is too rapid, revealing immature skin cells that commonly appear as red scaly patches called plaques. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body, including the scalp and nail bed and can range from mild to severe, affecting up to 70% of the body surface.
Psoriasis has a strong genetic component and not contagious. Those who suffer from this disease often experience physical, social and emotional trauma. The exact cause is unknown; however, researchers believe that heredity, environment, and the immune system may also play a role in psoriasis.
Factors that may affect the degree of severity include allergies, infections, dietary deficiencies or excesses, or nervous tension. Psoriasis is a disorder that most often needs lifelong treatment. And because there are so many different medications for the disorder, it may take some time before the right treatment or combination of treatments will work for an individual.
Until recently, the mainstays of topical therapy have been corticosteroids, tars, anthralins and keratolytics none of which are 100% effective at managing this condition.
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