The name of this disease originates from the Greek word "psorao" which means rash. Psoriasis usually does not cause itching.
Psoriasis is a commonly occuring skin disease. It can be found at all ages, but most often makes its début from the teens to the age of 40. About 2% of the population in the UK have psoriasis (in some countries this number is almost 3%) and it affects men and women fairly equally. The course of the disease varies quite a lot from one person to the next in both the progress and the degree of severity. Periods of outbreak interchange with periods of fewer symptoms. The disease is neither fatal nor infectious, but, like other skin diseases, it will often be a great social strain.
Psoriasis can be present all over the body, often symmetrically on elbows and knees, and in the crotch, scalp, and nails.
It is completely normal for the skin cells to be exfoliated and washed and worn off, but in psoriasis, the skin cells of the affected area divide even faster than cancer cells. Imbalances in the control mechanisms controlling the cell division of the skin (cAMP and cGMP) have been found. For this reason, the skin does not have time to form the most superficial layer, the horny layer, that coats normal skin -and even in non-affected skin areas, the skin cells divide somewhat faster than normal.
The basic cause of psoriasis has not been adequately elucidated, but is believed to have something to do with a problem in the body’s immune system. However, hereditary factors can be involved because psoriasis is more often seen in people with certain tissue types. The risk of developing psoriasis is thus 50% if both your parents have the disease but only 15% if only one of your parents has psoriasis.
A psoriasis outbreak can be triggered by a streptococcus infection in people with a hereditary predisposition; the infection could, for example, be a throat infection, but also the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is under suspicion of being a triggering factor. Autoimmunity - a condition with a wrongly coded immune system - is also in the picture as a possible cause, in which the T cells cross-react with bacteria and start attacking skin cells.
Various conditions that often occur in people with psoriasis can trigger and worsen the disease. These conditions can be:
- Bad digestion - especially problems digesting proteins. In time, this condition can develop a variety of health problems.
- Intestinal candida fungal growth through which a large amount of fungal toxins is absorbed into the blood.
- Reduced liver detoxification. The liver can be strained by various toxins originating from the intestine; for example the mentioned fungal toxins, certain medications, and by alcohol. Alcohol consumption is known for being able to worsen the symptoms of psoriasis.
- Allergy towards various metals.
- Damage to the skin - this can also happen through scratching yourself when you are itching.
- Mental imbalances: The skin is particularly susceptible to emotional imbalance - including stress.
- Increased risk of heart attack. Younger people with severe psoriasis have a moderately increased risk of heart attack when compared to healthy people.
Psoriasis vulgaris
There are several variants of psoriasis. The most common form is called Psoriasis vulgaris. The symptoms begin with a rash with small red spots on the skin that spread gradually. The attacked area produces large amounts of scales. The most superficial greyish white, greasy scales are the ones that fall off. The deeper scales are firmly fixed. Characteristic of psoriasis is the small amount of bleeding that occurs if you try to scrape them off.
Other variants of psoriasis
The outbreaks can manifest themselves in different ways. Small blisters with infection can appear or - more seriously - larger blisters that are exfoliated with the result that the skin loses fluid. The affected areas can be drop-shaped or round and the size of coins or they can appear as red, moist spots with a mimimum of scale formation under the breasts, in the groin, and in all skin folds. If psoriasis attacks the nails, small dents in the nails can appear resembling the dents of a thimble; thickening of the nails might also occur. The nail could be loosened and fall off. Psoriasis in the scalp can resemble dandruff eczema.
Besides being confused with eczema, psoriasis can sometimes be confused with a fungal attack and the affected areas can, of course, also actually be infected with fungi and bacteria.
Psoriatic arthropathy
About 6% of those suffering from psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthropathy which involves pains and swellings of various joints. Particularly the most distal joints of fingers and toes plus the joints in the vertebral column are affected. The suffering resembles articular rheumatism.
