Hives and psoriasis are skin conditions that can be confused with each other. Both can result in itchy patches of red skin, although they have different causes. Both hives and psoriasis can spread to many places on the body or may be limited to one area of inflammation.
Psoriasis is a autoimmune skin disorder that causes skin cells to multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. This makes the skin build up into bumpy red patches covered with white scales.
They can grow anywhere, but most appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Psoriasis can’t be passed from person to person. It does sometimes happen to members of the same family.
In people with psoriasis, this production process can occur within a few days. Because of this, there is no time for skin cells to fall. This leads to the formation of rapidly overproducing skin cells
Scales usually develop on the joints, such as the elbow and knee. They can develop anywhere on the body, including the claw of the extremities, the neck, the skull, the face
- Scalp
- Neck
- Face
- Hands
- Feets
- Skin folds
Try these natural remedies to clear scalp dandruff.
Symptoms
Psoriasis signs and symptoms are different for every other skin allergies. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Red patches of skin covered with thick, silver scales.
- Itching and burning sensations around patches
- Dry skin that may crack and bleed
- Thick, pitted nails
- Swollen joints
Not everyone will experience all these symptoms. Some people will experience completely different symptoms if they have less common types of psoriasis. Psoriasis patches can range from small dandruff patches to large eruptions that cover large areas.
Types of Psoriasis
Plaque Psoriasis – The most common form, plaque psoriasis, causes dry, raised, red skin lesions (plaques), which are covered with silver scales. Plaques may be itchy or painful and may be few or many.
Nail Psoriasis –Psoriasis can affect the fingernails and toenails, causing peeling, abnormal nail growth, and discoloration. Psoriatic nails may loosen and detach from the nail bed (onycholysis). In severe cases the nail may scramble.
Guttate Psoriasis – This type mainly affects young adults and children. It usually arises from a bacterial infection such as strep throat. It is marked by small, water-drop-size, scaling wounds on your trunk, arms, legs and scalp.
Inverse Psoriasis – It mainly affects the skin folds, around the genitals, below the breasts, in the armpits. Inverted psoriasis causes smooth patches of red, inflamed skin that worsen with friction and perspiration. Fungal infections can trigger this type of psoriasis.
Pustular Psoriasis – This unusual form of psoriasis can occur in a wide patch (generalized pustular psoriasis) or in small areas on your hands, feet or fingers.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis – The least common type of psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis can cover your entire body with red, peeling rash that can itch or burn intensely.
Psoriatic Arthritis – In addition to inflamed, papular skin, psoriatic arthritis causes inflamed, painful joints that are typical of arthritis. Sometimes joint symptoms are the first or only manifestation of psoriasis or sometimes only a change in the nail is seen.
Psoriasis Triggers
Psoriasis typically starts or worsens because of a trigger that you may be able to identify and avoid. Factors that may trigger psoriasis include:
- Infections, such as strep throat or skin infections
- Injury to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, a bug bite, or a severe sunburn
- Stress
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Certain medications — including lithium, which is prescribed for bipolar disorder, high blood pressure medications such as beta blockers, antimalarial drugs, and iodides
Treatment
Topical treatment – Using alone, creams and ointments that are applied to your skin can effectively treat mild to moderate psoriasis. When the disease is more severe, the cream may be combined with oral medications or light therapy. Topical psoriasis treatments include:
- Topical corticosteroids Vitamin D analogues
- Anthralin
- Moisturizers
- Topical retinoids
- Calcineurin inhibitors
- Salicylic acid
- Coal tar
Light therapy (phototherapy) –Natural or artificial ultraviolet light is used in this treatment. The simplest and easiest form of phototherapy involves exposing your skin to a controlled amount of natural sunlight.
- Sunlight
- UVB Phototherapy
- Narrow band UVB Phototherapy
- Goeckerman Therapy
- Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA)
- Excimer laser
Oral or injected medications – This is known as systemic treatment. Due to severe side effects, some of these drugs are used only for brief periods and may be optional with other forms of treatment.
- Retinoids
- Methotrexate
- Cyclosporine
- Drugs that alter the immune system (biologics)
- Other medications
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that often comes and goes. The main goal of treatment is to stop the skin cells from growing so quickly.
There are few panchkrama therapies and Ayurvedic treatment available in India which I’ll be sharing with you soon.
Thanks for Reading !!!
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