Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing hereditary, systemic inflammatory disease that affects mainly the skin and its accessory structures.
Psoriasis affects both sexes with the same frequency, occurs at any age, but especially around the 20th and 60th year of age.
It affects about 2% of the population. In psoriasis the skin cells multiply in a much faster rate than normal and that's why they add up and create the psoriatic plaques.
What are the stages of psoriasis?
Latent psoriasis in which there is only the genetic transfer, ie patients without any clinical manifestation but who have inherited the related genes.
Subclinical psoriasis with subclinical skin disorder. Phenotypic psoriasis with characteristic clinical lesions of the disease.
Which are the factors that might cause psoriasis's transition?
The transition of the disease from one stage to another and the worsening of psoriatic lesions may be caused by various factors such as physical injury, Koebner phenomenon, medications, infections, mental causes, metabolic and endocrine disorders.
What's the clinical picture of psoriasis?
Erythematous papules or plaques of varying shape and size, clear excommunication, thick, dry and brittle scales. The localization sites of disease are the elbows, knees, scalp, lumbosacral region, the navel, palms and soles, and genitals.
The most common psoriasis types are common plaque psoriasis and guttate psoriasis. Most of the patients experience remissions and exacerbations or even spend very long periods of their lives without clinical manifestations.
Can psoriasis affect other organs?
In addition to the skin, psoriasis is a disease that often has systematic lesions.
It concerns of the joints causing psoriatic arthritis, the digestive system, the cardiovascular system with increased cardiovascular disease, the eyes and kidneys.
Preventive measures to remedy psoriasis
Regardless of any treatment initiatiation, it is necessary to avoid triggering the disease, such as avoiding ethanol, nicotine, psychological stress, early diagnosis and treatment of infections, avoiding the administration of drugs which can cause psoriasis and mainly avoiding triggering the Koebner phenomenon.
Which are the psoriasis's treatments?
The topical psoriasis therapy involves initially the appliance of Keratolytic treatment that removes the scales and helps the penetration of local antipsoriatic drugs.
Moisturizing agents are especially valuable to the initiation and the course of therapy.
Chemicals used in the forefront of the topical treatment of psoriasis are the anthralin and calcipotriol while topical cortisone must be avoided.
In more severe cases, systemic therapies are given. At the forefront, acitretin, methotrexate and cyclosporin alternatively, and in recent years, biological factors are used.
Psychological support of patients with psoriasis is essential as well as encouraging them to continue the treatment, because now there is a solution by consulting an experienced dermatologist who will help them to cope with the disease.
