Psoriasis is one of the most persistent skin disorders and one of the incurable ones. Fortunately, it can be managed. With the help of a professional, you can minimize the effects of this skin condition. Symptoms to look out for include red and scaly skin patches with defined edges, lesions on both elbows and splitting, loosening or thickening of fingernails and toenails.
1. It is a chronic condition
Currently, there’s no cure for psoriasis. Once you are diagnosed with it, the condition remains for life and it only varies in severity when triggered. The best you can do is to have it checked by a professional and understand the triggers of it to come up with an effective treatment plan.
2. It is not contagious
Psoriasis is believed to be contagious, but this is just a myth. There is no need to distance yourself from people with Psoriasis, since it can’t be passed on through any means. However, it is thought t be a genetic condition. You are more likely to develop psoriasis if a family member already has it.
3. It is an autoimmune disease
Psoriasis occurs when the skin cells are replaced more quickly than usual. This means that the body thinks that healthy skin cells are foreign bodies, so it attacks them and increases production of skin cells to replace the old ones. Normally, it takes three to four weeks for the body to produce new skin cells. In people with psoriasis, the process only takes four to seven days.
4. It can contribute to developing arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis affects around 10 percent of psoriasis patients. This occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the joints, resulting in swelling, aching and stiffness of joints particularly early in the morning. If left unattended, psoriatic arthritis can cause deterioration of the joints. So, if you have psoriasis and are experiencing pain in any of your joints, make an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
5. It can affect your psychological and emotional health
Psoriasis is not just a skin problem; it makes day-to-day activities a constant challenge. If you’re diagnosed with psoriasis, it affect every aspect of your life—socializing, dating, swimming, changing clothes in gym rooms, attending parties, and so on.
6. It can be triggered
There are so many factors that can trigger Psoriasis. This includes anxiety, stress, hormonal imbalance, injury to the skin, sunburn, smoking or certain medications and infections. Moreover, psoriasis commonly becomes more inflamed during colder weather, because of the dry environment.
It is totally understandable why psoriasis can cause people to feel embarrassed, but it doesn’t have to be this way for life. Embracing—rather than fighting—this skin condition and having a good support of understanding people will make it a lot easier for you to proactively deal with this skin condition.
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