subject: What is Psoriasis? [print this page] Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that primarily affects joints and skin. Psoriasis is non-contagious and usually manifests itself in patients between the ages of 15 to 40. However, once psoriasis appears, it is a disease that will be with the patients for the rest of their lives. Psoriasis manifests itself in the form of dry, scaly skin, unsightly rashes and some discomfort soreness and itching. In severe cases of psoriasis, the skin can crack and even bleed. The severity of the disease varies from patient to patient it may occur in relatively small areas of the body but can also affect large areas of skin. The causes of psoriasis are not known but it is thought that genetics and stress may have some bearing on the outbreak of the disease While many treatments that ease or retard the diseases progress do exist, there is no known permanent cure for psoriasis. Psoriasis Variants Plaque Psoriasis: Over 80% of patients have plaque psoriasis which evident itself by red or silvery build-ups of skin. Primarily occurs on the elbows and knees but can also affect the scalp or the genital area. Inverse Psoriasis: tend to appear in the armpits, in areas with folds of skin and also the groin. Guttate Psoriasis: manifests itself in the form of small red spots covering areas of skin. Erythrodermic Psoriasis: Cause red patches on the skin. The infected areas can be painful and result in excessive itching. Pustular Psoriasis: Causes white blisters, usually surrounded by areas of red skin. Psoriasis Treatment There is no known cure for psoriasis! Treatments that do exist, aim to control the spread of the disease and reduce its severity. Treatments should be undertaken at the advice of your physician as different treatment regimes are suitable for different patients and forms of psoriasis. Treatment regimes include: Topical treatment: creams and lotions are applied to affected areas. Some of this medicines are natural, some artificial and some a combination of the two. Always consult your physician or dermatologist before using unknown substances. Phototherapy: or the exposure of the affected areas to UV rays, usually in a solarium or through the use of UV projectors. These treatments must be medically supervised and approved. Systemic treatments: involves the use or oral or intravenous medication always administered by a qualified medical practitioner! Climatotherapy: refers to treatments for psoriasis in an area where climatic and other factors give a therapeutic and healing benefit such as the Dead Sea. Climatotherapy is a process that can take anywhere from a week to a month. The results of climatotherapy, especially at the Dead Sea, have been shown to be extraordinarily effective in combating the ravages of psoriasis and in retarding its reappearance.
