Psoriasis Awareness

HealthWatch for August 2007
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Psoriasis is a common skin disorder and can be a recurring lifetime disease. It affects adults, as well as children. Studies have shown that men and woman of all races are affected equally by psoriasis but females develop plaque psoriasis earlier than males do. An interesting fact about this disease is that more people from western European and Scandinavian countries are diagnosed with psoriasis.

2.2 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with psoriasis, confirming that psoriasis is a common disease. Psoriasis is not a cosmetic problem. Nearly 60 percent reported their disease to be a large problem in their everyday life -National Psoriasis Foundation

Psoriasis is usually found on the human’s elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of the body. According to The Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of psoriasis include small red bumps, intense itching, dry and cracking skin, skin swelling, skin pain, cracked or crumbly nails, and loose nails.

Smoking, sun exposure, alcoholism, and HIV can determine how often psoriasis will occur once someone has been diagnosed positive for psoriasis.

Some other triggers that may cause psoriasis to appear are:

Stress: It can cause psoriasis to flare for the first time or aggravate existing psoriasis.
Injury to skin: Sometimes it can appear in areas of the skin that have been injured or traumatized. This is called the “Koebner phenomenon.” Examples are vaccinations, sunburns and scratches.
Certain Medicines: Lithium, Antimalarials, Inderal, Quinidine, Indomethacin, are all associated with triggering psoriasis.
Allergies: Although unproven, some people suspect that allergies trigger their psoriasis.
Diet: Although unproven, changing the diet has helped some people improve their psoriasis or avoid flares.
Strep Infection: This form of psoriasis resembles small, red, individual spots on the skin. It can be present without symptoms and can still cause a flare of guttate psoriasis.
Weather: It may make skin drier and more susceptible to a psoriasis outbreak.
Genetics: Certain people are more likely to develop it, due to their genetic makeup, so no one can “catch” it from another person.

Resource: National Psoriasis Foundation

Local Resources

Akron Children’s Hospital: Many Children Find Psoriasis Gets Under Their Skin
The Cleveland Clinic: Less Common Forms of Psoriasis
University Hospitals: Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis
Health on Your Side: University Hospitals Gets $5M Gift For Psoriasis Research

State and National Resources

At Health: How Does Psoriasis Affect Quality of Life?
MayoClinic: When to Seek Medical Advice
National Psoriasis Foundation: Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis Net: What Psoriasis Looks Like
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Psoriasis: More Than Cosmetic