What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an unpredictable and irritating skin condition. It’s the result of skin cells multiplying faster than normal, causing the underlying cells to reach the surface and die. This creates areas of red raised skin (plaques) and/or white scales that typically occur on the knees, elbows and scalp. Psoriasis can also affect the torso, palms and soles of feet. It can be itchy, painful, crack, and bleed, and in more severe cases, can fill with pus or be accompanied by fever.
Research has shown that an individual’s immune system is a factor in causing psoriasis. In addition, many people report flare-ups after an emotional upset. Because of this connection, many believe that emotional stressors can serve as triggers for those who may be a genetically prone to psoriasis.
As your body develops psoriasis, your emotional response can make an episode worse or better. Psoriasis can be a physical representation of emotional stress, trauma, and internal discord.
Identifying Psoriasis
Skin affected by psoriasis is red, raised, and can be covered in loose, silver or white-colored scales. Affected areas may be itchy and painful. They can also crack and bleed. In severe cases, the affected areas can expand and merge into one another.
Wellness Tip
Moisturize. One way to help keep your psoriasis at bay is to take care of your skin on a daily basis, including moisturizing after you take a shower or bath.
Mild and Most Common
Symptoms
Mild case of psoriasis include noticeable areas of red skin, broader than they are raised and typically appearing on knees, elbows, or scalp. They can be itchy, flake, and may crack or bleed if not treated.
Treatment:
Effective treatment of psoriasis includes medicating the affected area (knees, elbows, or scalp) with the appropriate treatment products. For example, use Keralyt 5 Cream for your elbows and Keralyt 5 Shampoo for your scalp. Daily skin care is important. Use natural soaps and moisturize after bathing.
Moderate to severe
Symptoms
Moderate cases of psoriasis include multiple areas of red, flaky, and raised skin that increase in size, sometimes connecting to one another. These larger flare-ups can crack, bleed, as well as become more painful and irritated by sweating and/or friction.
Treatment:
In addition to treatments recommended for minor cases, you can increase the strength of medications, as well as take more frequent and even better care of your skin. Be sure to moisturize frequently and use only gentle cleaning products around your home and on your body.
More Severe
Symptoms
More severe psoriasis can be large, bright red, swollen and/or filled will pus. They can be raw, painful, extremely itchy, and may be accompanied by a fever.
Treatment:
Severe bouts with psoriasis may require more than the recommended medications and skin regimens. Make an effort to understand the potential triggers for your psoriasis, which can be stress-based. Seek medical attention if your condition worsens over time.
Symptoms of Psoriasis
Symptoms for psoriasis vary depending on the type you have.
Plaque Psoriasis consists of patches of red skin, broad and slightly raised, that have silvery-white flakes called scales. It often affects elbows, knees, scalp, or lower back. Affected areas may crack, bleed, ache, or itch. However, the more you scratch, the thicker they can get. You can develop Plaque Psoriasis at any age, but it is most common in adults. Learn more.
Scalp Psoriasis is a type of Psoriasis that may appear like dandruff, but it’s not the same. Scalp Psoriasis flakes are powdery and silver or white. Nearly half of people with Psoriasis have Scalp Psoriasis. Learn more.
Kids and young adults are more likely to get Guttate Psoriasis, presenting as small red dots with raised edges. It can appear suddenly in the midsection or onother common sites like arms, legs, scalp, ears, and face. Triggers for Guttate Psoriasis include strep throat, the flu, colds, and other upper respiratory infections. Learn more.
Inverse Psoriasis consists of very sore patches of shiny, bright red skin without the often-accompanying silver scales. Inverse Psoriasis only appears where skin contacts skin, like in the armpits, behind the knees, under the breasts or belly fat, genitals, and buttocks. Rubbing (chafing) and sweating can make the condition worse. Learn more.
This rare type appears as red, swollen patches of skin with pus-filled bumps and may be your body reacting to infections, stress, medications, or contact with certain chemicals. When these bumps dry out, they turn yellow-brown and scaly. Pustular Psoriasis usually shows up on the palms of your hands or bottoms of your feet. The blisters themselves may break open, leaving the skin underneath cracked and raw. Seek professional help immediately if the bumps spread and are met with other symptoms like severe itching, fever, muscle weakness, and/or chills. Learn more.
This form of Psoriasis causes large areas of the skin to turn bright red, like a really bad sunburn, and fall off your body. It’s rare, but includes symptoms like extreme itchiness, pain, a racing heartbeat, and feeling very cold or hot. Erythrodermic Psoriasis can be life threatening, so seek medical attention if you suspect that you have this type of Psoriasis. Learn more.
Nearly half of the people with Psoriasis have skin cells build up under their nails, which then becomes thick, often splitting or cracking. The nail may even crumble or fall off in harsher cases. Signs of Nail Psoriasis include brownish red or yellow spots under the nail, or tiny dents along the surface.
When arthritic symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and swelling show up along with Psoriasis, it’s called Psoriatic Arthritis or Psoriatic disease. If you are suffering from both symptoms of Psoriasis and arthritis, be sure to seek your doctor’s advice.
Psoriasis Treatment Options
Because psoriasis is an internal and external condition, treatment of it requires patience and practice – with yourself as well as with the products best suited to your condition. Summers Laboratories has created many skincare products to help heal and soothe you.
Preventing Psoriasis
Use gentle skin products and treat and moisturize affected areas with Keralyt5 Cream and other Keralyt products. No scratching or picking!
Dry and cold weather can make the skin more susceptible to psoriasis flare-ups, making moisturizing your skin and avoiding triggers all the more important.
There’s an association between psoriasis flare-ups and anxiety, so be mindful of your emotions and aware of your personal triggers so you can lead a healthier life with healthier skin.