Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that results in dry, scaly red patches of inflamed skin. It can strike at any age, although it tends to affect younger people in their 20s and young adults in their 30s. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, but scientists do believe certain factors contribute to its development. Psoriasis usually occurs when too many skin cells are being replaced too rapidly. It is not exactly known why this occurs, but recent research indicates that it is caused by a faulty reaction with the immune system. Your body creates new skin cells at the deepest layers of your skin, called the epidermis.
When your immune system attacks these new cells, it causes them to multiply rapidly and form red patches on your skin called plaques. The inflammation caused by these plaques can trigger a cycle of further outbreaks, which may continue for years. If the initial psoriasis was triggered by an infection, the immune system now thinks it has come into contact with your body’s own damaged cells and sees red patches as a threat to your health. This triggers the increased production of skin-cell production in an attempt to stop the infection and thus triggers the psoriasis overgrowth.
The symptoms of psoriasis are usually pain and irritation in the areas of the skin covered by silvery scales. Red patches will appear wherever there are scaly plaques. In time, you will find your skin becomes covered with small red, peeling rashes. The scales themselves will turn yellow and begin to ulcerate, creating spaces between the damaged skin layers.
Common triggers for flare-ups include stress, chemicals, and cosmetics. However, researchers have found that environmental and lifestyle factors may also contribute to flare-ups. For example, if you live in an area with high levels of pollution, the air you breathe may cause inflammation throughout your body. High levels of toxins in the water supply can also contribute to the development of psoriasis symptoms. While diet, stress, and environmental triggers are believed to play a role in some cases, there are other potential triggers that haven’t been proven to exist. Researchers are still working on identifying the exact causes of psoriasis symptoms.
Some researchers think that certain types of medications may actually trigger outbreaks of Psoriasis. There is a theory that chemicals in certain types of medications may actually break down skin cells or disrupt the immune systems. Other theories suggest that certain personality traits, such as perfectionism and anxiety, may also be linked to flare-ups. No matter what triggers your symptoms, you should speak with your doctor about possible triggers, as they could be very different than those listed here.
When it comes to reducing psoriasis symptoms, there are several ways to do so. One of the most popular ways to treat psoriasis is to use prescription topical ointments, creams, and lotions. These products will help to reduce inflammation throughout the skin, which can reduce the symptoms associated with psoriasis. Topical treatments can be used to treat both acute and chronic cases of psoriasis. Since topical ointments, creams, and lotions work well when applied topically, they can also be used on a daily basis. While some people will not find this type of treatment effective enough, others have found great success when combining psoriasis ointment therapy with oral anti-inflammatory medications.
Preventing a flare-up is another way to prevent recurrences. By keeping the immune system healthy, you can help to control your psoriasis and prevent a future outbreak. Some individuals suffer from a faulty immune system that allows the body to be too sensitive to infection. When the body is threatened with infection, it sends its defense system to fight off the infection causing inflammation. This results in excessive skin cell production, which can lead to over-production of skin cells and inflammation.
One of the common triggers for flare-ups is a bug bite. Bug bites can cause redness and swelling in the skin and can result in an outbreak of Psoriasis if not properly treated. It is important to apply an ice pack to the area of the bug bite to reduce the swelling and take care not to rub or scratch the skin. Many times finding out what triggers an outbreak of Psoriasis will help you better treat it. If you can identify a trigger, it may be possible to avoid having a major flare-up by simply avoiding the triggers.