Is Psoriasis Dangerous?

Most people have heard of psoriasis, but probably don't really know what it is. From TV commercials and magazine ads for any number of medicines and creams, it's obvious that the condition affects the skin. This is true, but what causes psoriasis? Doctors have come to the conclusion that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body is basically attacking itself. While this sounds daunting, for the most part, psoriasis isn't dangerous, but it certainly can create a loss of self-esteem, embarrassment and depression due to the unsightly appearance of the skin.

There are numerous possible causes for autoimmune diseases, such as heredity or environmental factors, but sometimes the cause can't be determined. Researchers have found a high concentration of T-cells, white blood cells that fight infections, in the skin of a psoriasis outbreak. If you have, or have seen a person with psoriasis, then you know that patches of skin become red and scaly. The skin cells divide too fast and build up into raised, red, flaky patches. Normal skin cells mature and die off in about a month, but with psoriasis, the cells mature in a couple of days and the dead cells slough off, creating the flaky appearance. The most frequent areas for the scaly patches are the elbows, scalp and behind the ears, but sometimes other parts of the body can be affected.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, there are numerous medicine available to control or ease the symptoms. There are topical steroidal treatments that can be applied directly on the affected areas, but since steroids are not to be overused, these are not the best for long term use. Instead, there are non-steroidal creams and lotions that can be used more often. For outbreaks on the scalp, tar based shampoos can also be used to help ease the flaking and itchiness. Some doctors may even recommend ultra violet light treatment. The UV light acts on the dividing cells and can sometimes slow the process. This type of treatment can be done with a UV lamp or direct sunlight, but only a doctor should recommend this as UV light can be harsh on the skin.

As far as environmental causes of psoriasis, very dry climates can make the symptoms worse since the affected areas of skin are dry and flaky. Slightly more humid climates may help in some cases, but not all. For some people, relief could be a difficult thing and finding something to help may mean lots of trial and error. But no matter what, seeing a doctor at the first signs of psoriasis is vital to make sure it's not a more serious skin condition. Many people manage to control outbreaks and live normal, productive lives.