According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, approximately 7.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis. The skin condition is considered among the autoimmune diseases; the array of conditions caused by a faulty immune system. Psoriasis can also affect the scalp and the joints causing psoriatic arthritis. With psoriasis, the T subset of the immune cells attacks healthy skin, mistaking it for skin with an infection that needs healing. Psoriasis is associated with many complications that need to be addressed long term, since it is a chronic disease.
Psoriasis Arthritis
MayoClinic.com notes that approximately 30 percent of psoriasis patients go on to develop joint inflammation associated with the disease. This inflammation gradually erodes the joints and causes severe pain and disability. Psoriatic arthritis manifests as stiff, swollen and painful joints. The patient may also complain of generalized weakness and fatigue, along with redness of the eyes or the tissue surrounding them. The reduced range of motion greatly affects the quality of the daily life of the patient and may lead to depression. Therefore, joint inflammation associated with psoriasis should be promptly diagnosed and treated.
Skin Complications and Reduced Quality of Life
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis usually causes skin itching. Constant scratching can break the skin and favor secondary bacterial infection. In order to reduce the need to itch, the patient is instructed to keep the skin moisturized, apply wet towels, or take cold showers. The physician can also prescribe some medications that help with the itching such as antihistamines and corticosteroids. Patients with psoriasis also suffer from the cosmetic complications of the disease. The afflicted patients may suffer from low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Yet, psoriasis is not merely a cosmetic problem. Almost 60 percent of psoriasis patients indicate that their disease has a large negative impact on their everyday life.
Life-threatening Complications
The National Psoriasis Foundation describes a form of life-threatening severe psoriasis called Von Zumbusch. Von Zumbusch is a subtype of the clinical entity known as pustular psoriasis. The small pustules appear suddenly on the skin, and in the matter of 24 to 48 hours these pustules dry up leaving the skin red and inflamed. This severe form of psoriasis causes the patient to be severely dehydrated and in need of immediate medical care.
