Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that manifests as rough, dry, scaly patches on the skin that can ooze and cause pain. A genetic and chronic disease that has many side effects, psoriasis treatments often do not work well or have side effects. Mayo Clinic reports that patients with psoriasis can experience times of remission, but that these are often interrupted by psoriatic episodes, called "flares."
Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis, the most common kind, brings about itching, cracking skin and requires constant daily care. It can develop anywhere on the body, including the soft tissue of the mouth, which makes eating and drinking painful, and around the genitals, which can make wearing clothes painful.
Scalp Psoriasis
While psoriasis can occur anywhere there on the skin, when it occurs on the scalp, special maintenance complications arise. Keeping hair clean and caring for it can exacerbate the itching of the skin. A psoriasis patient must use specific shampoos, many of which require the patient to wait many minutes before washing the shampoo out. Often, shampoos for psoriasis are tar-based, and patients then need follow up maintenance with special hair conditioners that mask the petroleum odor of the tar.
When washing hair, a psoriasis patient must use a fine-tooth comb to remove all the scales. Afterwards, medication must be applied to the lesions. Drying, combing, brushing and styling of the hair must be all done with care so as not to worsen the psoriatic lesions on the scalp.
Psoriatic Arthritis
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, approximately 10 to 30 percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints of the back, knees, neck, elbows, fingers and ankles. It limits movement and causes pain. In the most severe cases, according to the Mayo Clinic, permanent damage can occur. Furthermore, symptoms can spread to the eyes, causing inflammatory eye conditions such as conjunctivitis.
Quality of Life
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, 60 percent of people with psoriasis report that the disease causes problems in their everyday lives. In a study reported by Pub Med, a journal of the National Library of Medicine, researchers found that psoriasis affects a patient's quality of life. As the disease covers a greater area of the body, patients often seek out new doctors and try new treatments, negatively impacting finances.
Treatment Complications
Treating psoriasis is difficult, time-consuming and costly. Special soaps are needed, scaly patches must be removed and medicated ointments must be applied so that as the skin dries, the psoriasis areas remain soft. If the affected areas dry out and harden, skin can crack open and bleed, leaving the patient susceptible to infection.
If topical treatments do not help, other medications can be tried, but many of these have side effects that include liver disease, hair loss and stomach problems.
References
- National Psoriasis Foundation: About Psoriasis
- Arthritis Foundation: Psoriatic Arthritis
- Mayo Clinic: Psoriasis
- Pub Med: Determinants of Quality of Life in Patients With Psoriasis: A Study From the U.S. Population
- Mayo Clinic: Psoriasis - Prednisone and Other Corticosteroids: Balance the Risks and Benefits
