| What is this Condition?
| |
| | Scale Removal
|
| Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent skin
| |
| | To remove psoriatic scales, the doctor
|
| disease in which the skin's outermost
| |
| | may instruct the person to apply
|
| layer is abnormally overgrown. Red
| |
| | ointments, such as Vaseline, salicylic
|
| patches form and are covered by thick,
| |
| | acid preparations, or preparations
|
| dry, silvery scales. These lesions vary
| |
| | containing urea. These medications soften
|
| widely in severity and distribution.
| |
| | the scales; the person then removes them
|
| Psoriatic skin cells have an abnormally
| |
| | by scrubbing them carefully with a soft
|
| short life cycle - 4 days as opposed to
| |
| | brush while bathing.
|
| 28 days for normal skin cells. Four days
| |
| | Ultraviolet Light Treatment
|
| isn't enough time for skin cells to
| |
| | To retard rapid skin cell production, the
|
| mature. As a result, the outermost skin
| |
| | doctor may recommend exposure to light
|
| layer becomes thick and flaky.
| |
| | (either ultraviolet B or natural
|
| Typically, the disease goes through
| |
| | sunlight) to the point of minimal skin
|
| partial remissions and flareups.
| |
| | redness. Ultraviolet B light exposure is
|
| Flare-ups are often related to specific
| |
| | the most common treatment for generalized
|
| factors but may be unpredictable. They
| |
| | psoriasis.
|
| can usually be controlled with therapy.
| |
| | The person may apply tar preparations or
|
| Psoriasis affects about 2% of the
| |
| | crude coal tar to affected areas about 15
|
| population in the United States.
| |
| | minutes before exposure, or may leave
|
| The incidence is higher among whites than
| |
| | these preparations on overnight and wipe
|
| other races. Although this disorder is
| |
| | them off the next morning. Exposure time
|
| most common in young adults, it may
| |
| | can increase gradually. Outpatient or day
|
| strike at any age, including infancy.
| |
| | treatment with ultraviolet B light avoids
|
| What are its Symptoms?
| |
| | long hospitalizations and prolongs
|
| The most common symptom of psoriasis is
| |
| | remission.
|
| itching; occasionally, pain from dry,
| |
| | Steroid Therapy
|
| cracked, encrusted lesions may occur.
| |
| | Steroid creams and ointments are useful
|
| These lesions are red and usually form
| |
| | to control psoriasis. A potent
|
| well-defined patches (also called
| |
| | fluorinated steroid works well (except on
|
| plaques), which sometimes cover large
| |
| | the face and areas where two skin
|
| areas of the body. They're most common on
| |
| | surfaces come into contact). These creams
|
| the scalp, chest, elbows, knees, back,
| |
| | must be applied twice daily, preferably
|
| and buttocks.
| |
| | after bathing to promote absorption;
|
| The patches consist of silver scales that
| |
| | overnight, the person covers the areas
|
| either flake off easily or can thicken,
| |
| | with occlusive dressings, such as plastic
|
| covering the lesion. If the scales are
| |
| | wrap, plastic gloves or booties, or a
|
| removed, fine points of bleeding may
| |
| | vinyl exercise suit (under direct medical
|
| occur. Occasionally, small
| |
| | or nursing supervision). Small, stubborn
|
| teardrop-shaped lesions appear, either
| |
| | plaques may require steroid injections
|
| alone or with plaques. Typically, these
| |
| | into the lesions.
|
| lesions are thin and red, with few
| |
| | Calcipotriene
|
| scales. Widespread shedding of scales is
| |
| | Calcipotriene ointment, a vitamin D3
|
| common in exfoliative (inflammatory)
| |
| | analogue, is a new topical agent used to
|
| psoriasis and may also develop in chronic
| |
| | treat psoriasis.
|
| psoriasis
| |
| | Therapy for Severe Psoriasis
|
| Pustular psoriasis is a rare, severe form
| |
| | For someone with severe chronic
|
| of the disorder marked by bright red
| |
| | psoriasis, the doctor may prescribe the
|
| patches and small, raised areas that
| |
| | Goeckerman regimen, which combines tar
|
| contain pus.
| |
| | baths and ultraviolet B light treatments.
|
| In about 30% of cases, psoriasis spreads
| |
| | This therapy may induce remission and
|
| to the fingernails, producing small
| |
| | dear the skin in 3 to 5 weeks. The Ingram
|
| indentations and yellow or brown
| |
| | technique, a variation of the Goeckerman
|
| discoloration. In severe cases, buildup
| |
| | regimen, uses anthralin instead of tar.
|
| of thick, crumbly debris under the nails
| |
| | In a therapy called PUVA, the person
|
| causes them to separate from the nailbed.
| |
| | first receives psoralens (an agent that
|
| Some people with psoriasis develop
| |
| | promotes the action of ultraviolet light)
|
| arthritic symptoms, usually in one or
| |
| | and then is exposed to high-intensity
|
| more joints of the fingers or toes, or
| |
| | ultraviolet A light.
|
| sometimes in the joints of the lower
| |
| | As a last resort, a drug that inhibits
|
| back. Some people suffer morning
| |
| | cell proliferation - usually Rheumatrex -
|
| stiffness. People with joint symptoms
| |
| | may help to relieve severe psoriasis
|
| experience remissions and flare-ups
| |
| | that's unresponsive to conventional
|
| similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis.
| |
| | treatment.
|
