Some people inherit genes that make them more likely to develop psoriasis. If you have an immediate family member with the skin condition, your risk for developing psoriasis is higher. However, the percentage of people who have psoriasis and a genetic predisposition is small. Approximately 2 to 3 percent of people with the gene develop the condition, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation NPF. Read more about the causes of psoriasis.
Most doctors are able to make a diagnosis with a simple physical exam. Symptoms of psoriasis are typically evident and easy to distinguish from other conditions that may cause similar symptoms. During this exam, be sure to show your doctor all areas of concern. In addition, let your doctor know if any family members have the condition.
If the symptoms are unclear or if your doctor wants to confirm their suspected diagnosis, they may take a small sample of skin. This is known as a biopsy. The examination can diagnose the type of psoriasis you have.
It can also rule out other possible disorders or infections. Your doctor will likely inject a local numbing medication to make the biopsy less painful. They will then send the biopsy to a lab for analysis. When the results return, your doctor may request an appointment to discuss the findings and treatment options with you. They may also change over time for you. Unusually high stress may trigger a flare-up.
If you learn to reduce and manage your stress, you can reduce and possibly prevent flare-ups. Heavy alcohol use can trigger psoriasis flare-ups. If you excessively use alcohol, psoriasis outbreaks may be more frequent. Reducing alcohol consumption is smart for more than just your skin too. Your doctor can help you form a plan to quit drinking if you need help. An accident, cut, or scrape may trigger a flare-up. Shots, vaccines, and sunburns can also trigger a new outbreak. Psoriasis is caused, at least in part, by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy skin cells.
This might start another psoriasis flare-up. Strep throat is a common trigger. Here are 10 more psoriasis triggers you can avoid. Psoriasis has no cure. Treatments aim to reduce inflammation and scales, slow the growth of skin cells, and remove plaques.
Psoriasis treatments fall into three categories:. Creams and ointments applied directly to the skin can be helpful for reducing mild to moderate psoriasis. Many of these medications have severe side effects. Doctors usually prescribe them for short periods of time. This psoriasis treatment uses ultraviolet UV or natural light. Sunlight kills the overactive white blood cells that are attacking healthy skin cells and causing the rapid cell growth.
Most people with moderate to severe psoriasis will benefit from a combination of treatments. This type of therapy uses more than one of the treatment types to reduce symptoms. Some people may use the same treatment their entire lives. Learn more about your treatment options for psoriasis. If you have moderate to severe psoriasis — or if psoriasis stops responding to other treatments — your doctor may consider an oral or injected medication.
This class of medications alters your immune system and prevents interactions between your immune system and inflammatory pathways. These medications are injected or given through intravenous IV infusion.
Retinoids reduce skin cell production. Once you stop using them, symptoms of psoriasis will likely return. Side effects include hair loss and lip inflammation. This can ease symptoms of psoriasis. It also means you have a weakened immune system, so you may become sick more easily. Side effects include kidney problems and high blood pressure. Like cyclosporine, methotrexate suppresses the immune system.
It may cause fewer side effects when used in low doses. It can cause serious side effects in the long term. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein.
All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes. Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional. Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to content published within Cureus. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Cureus v. Published online Jun Christian Summa 1 Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Poonam Patel 1 Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Marc M Kesselman 2 Rheumatology, Dr.
Michelle Demory Beckler 3 Immunology, Dr. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Corresponding author. Christian Summa ude. Received Apr 14; Accepted Jun This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Keywords: immunocompromised patient, psoriasis pathophysiology, psoriasis treatment, vaccination, vaccinations' role in psoriasis. Review Infection and vaccination As researchers and clinical practitioners gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis, treatments have become more targeted toward the underlying mechanisms of disease activity. Influenza Psoriasis patients have been shown to have a higher risk of contracting influenza compared to the general population [ 11 ].
Pneumonia Pneumonia is a major health threat in autoimmune disease patients, especially those treated with immunosuppressive therapy. Herpes Zoster In the US, every year, there are more than one million cases of herpes zoster HZ virus infection [ 17 ]. Bacillus Calmette-Geurin Immunizations appear to be relatively effective in psoriasis patients.
Open in a separate window. Conclusions Often, moderate to severe psoriasis patients are treated with highly beneficial immunosuppressive therapies. Acknowledgments The authors would like to acknowledge Beth Gilbert and Alex Mikulka for their contributions in this study.
Footnotes The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. References 1. Psoriasis and suicidality: a review of the literature. Dermatol Ther. Possible triggering effect of influenza vaccination on psoriasis. J Immunol Res. Am J Pathol. J Immunol. A systematic review of herpes zoster incidence and consensus recommendations on vaccination in adult patients on systemic therapy for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis: from the medical board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.
J Am Acad Dermatol. Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with iliac artery endarteritis in a patient receiving ustekinumab. BMC Infect Dis. Off-label uses of biologics in dermatology: rituximab, omalizumab, infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, efalizumab, and alefacept part 2 of 2 Graves JE, Nunley K, Heffernan MP. Immunology of psoriasis. Annu Rev Immunol. Back to Psoriasis. Psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced more quickly than usual. It's not known exactly why this happens, but research suggests it's caused by a problem with the immune system.
Your body produces new skin cells in the deepest layer of skin. These skin cells gradually move up through the layers of skin until they reach the outermost level, where they die and flake off. This whole process normally takes around 3 to 4 weeks. Psoriasis is a common, long-term chronic disease with no cure. It tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission. Treatments are available to help you manage symptoms.
And you can incorporate lifestyle habits and coping strategies to help you live better with psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. It usually causes dry, red skin lesions plaques covered with silvery scales. Guttate psoriasis, more common in children and adults younger than 30, appears as small, water-drop-shaped lesions on the trunk, arms, legs and scalp.
The lesions are typically covered by a fine scale. Psoriasis causes red patches of skin covered with silvery scales and a thick crust on the scalp most often extending just past the hairline that may bleed when removed. Inverse psoriasis causes smooth patches of red, inflamed skin. It's more common in overweight people and is worsened by friction and sweating.
Psoriasis can affect fingernails and toenails, causing pitting, abnormal nail growth and discoloration. Pustular psoriasis generally develops quickly, with pus-filled blisters appearing just hours after your skin becomes red and tender. It can occur in widespread patches or in smaller areas on your hands, feet or fingertips. The least common type of psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis can cover your entire body with a red, peeling rash that can itch or burn intensely.
Psoriasis patches can range from a few spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions that cover large areas. The most commonly affected areas are the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, soles of the feet, scalp, face and palms. Most types of psoriasis go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a time or even going into remission. If you suspect that you may have psoriasis, see your doctor.
Also, talk to your doctor if your psoriasis:. Viven Williams: Your fingernails are clues to your overall health. Many people develop lines or ridges from the cuticle to the tip. Rachel Miest, M. Viven Williams: But Dr. Rachel Miest says there are other nail changes you should not ignore that may indicate ….
Viven Williams: … and other issues. Here are six examples: No. This could be a sign of psoriasis.
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