Chronic Plaque Psoriasis And its Effective Treatment
Psoriasis is a disease of the skin, and it affects hands and feet, elbows, knees, scalp, eyelids, skin folds, or any other part of the body. Psoriasis is not limited to any specific part of the body, and it significantly affects the quality of our life. It is a chronic inflammatory cell-mediated disease that mostly affects the skin and joints. Psoriasis is considered a common yet complex disease that can be managed with treatments.
Understanding chronic psoriasis
This is a rare and dangerous type of disease because it reduces the body’s ability to fight infections. It is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorder with a strong genetic basis. Both men and women are affected with psoriasis. It can affect people in all age groups but is uncommon in children or early infants. Chronic psoriasis is caused by various causative agents/ factors, including environmental ones like climate change, hereditary factors, certain treatments, problems with the immune system, and more. Psoriasis occurs when the cells of the skin rise and pile up on the surface before they shed off. T-cells often help to protect the body against various infections. In psoriasis, these T-cells are put into action by mistake, and they trigger other immune responses by being in an active state.
Individuals with chronic psoriasis experience physical discomfort, itching, and pain. It interferes with a daily routine of walking, playing sports, self-care, looking after family members, sleeping, etc. Psoriasis is classified as mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. It is associated with several other conditions like diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disorders, etc. Psoriasis is not a contagious disease and touching a person cannot pass this skin condition from one person to another.
Treatment for chronic psoriasis
Psoriasis may present symptoms similar to other skin ailments, hence detecting it is difficult. Thus, it becomes necessary to confirm the diagnosis through a microscopic examination of a skin sample, family history of psoriasis, or physical examination. Psoriasis is treated based on the severity of the disease and its progression, areas affected, type of psoriasis, its location, and patient’s response to its initial treatments. Doctors often use a trial and error approach to find a treatment that best suits the patient and may switch the plan if the treatment does not work or produces adverse reactions.
Topical chronic psoriasis treatment
Here, the treatment is direct to the skin. Some forms of moisturizers and lotions, vitamin D3, salicylic acid, coal tar, etc. are used to give a soothing effect. It helps to improve the condition of the skin and is mostly combined with strong remedies. It helps to slow down the growth of skin cells and make our skin look younger and brighter.
Light therapy or phototherapy
It involves exposing of skin to ultraviolet light on a regular basis under expert supervision. The source of light includes natural sunlight or artificial UV light to treat chronic psoriasis. The treatment should be carried out consistently either in a clinic or at home for improved results.
Systemic chronic psoriasis treatment
Systemic treatment is usually used to treat chronic psoriasis, and it works throughout our body. Here, the treatment reaches all cells throughout the body via the bloodstream. Different options may be recommended, but to treat psoriasis, they typically suppress the immune system and decrease the rapid turnover of skin cells.
Combination therapy
This therapy involves a combination of light, topical, and systemic treatments and lower doses of each can lead to increased effectiveness of the recovery of disease. This therapy involves many approaches for treating psoriasis-like duration of the treatment, severity involved, possible side effects, etc.
Complications involved in treating psoriasis
Chronic psoriasis is related to various physical and physiological difficulties. It involves dry, itchy and peeling skin, red rashes on the skin, side effects of the treatment, etc. It can also cause heart failure because the heart rate accelerates due to increased blood flow while undergoing chronic psoriasis treatment.
Researchers are trying to understand the inheritance of psoriasis and various genes involved in the process. Psoriasis is characterized by abnormal growth of epidermal cells of the skin. Once the patient develops psoriasis, it can be cured on its own or under a doctor’s supervision, depending on its severity. Markers used for diagnosis involve proteins involved in gene mutations for the development of psoriasis. Nutritionists recommend losing weight, having a healthy diet, vigorous exercise, etc. to get rid of psoriasis. Even people with chronic psoriasis can be cured entirely with constant follow-up and health history.