Psoriasis and Social Networking

By Michael J Dornan

Quite a lot is known about psoriasis, but little is known in how to cure it. Studies show that the peak onset of psoriasis is during teenage years and early adulthood, with the average age of 28 years. In 90% of cases, the disease is chronic. It is thought that remission may occur in a third of people but may last as long as 54 years.
Psoriasis occurs due to a combination of reasons and they may be genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It is not contagious and varies between ethnic backgrounds. Approximately, 3% of Caucasians are affected with psoriasis. In contrast, only 0.3% of the general population in China has psoriasis. The type of climate lived in affects how common psoriasis becomes. This may be due to the impact of sunlight, which appears to improve psoriasis.
The Cause Of Psoriasis
Psoriasis tends to be more common in higher latitudes, such as the northern hemisphere, and is more common in Caucasians than other races. Research found that 30% of people with psoriasis have a direct relative with psoriasis. Children with both parents suffering from psoriasis have a 50% chance of developing the disease. Stress, infection and drugs may also result in psoriasis.
Symptoms of Psoriasis
Psoriasis sufferers experience difficulties with social interaction, and can suffer from several of the following diseases:

1. Cardiovascular disease due to inflammation, or overweight and have higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and increased cholesterol.
2. Metabolic syndrome, due to high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol.
3. Cancer, although unclear, but can relate to the treatment used to help cure psoriasis.
4. Depression, due to having a higher rate of mood disorders, and lower self-esteem, than people without the disease.
5. Other diseases such as diabetes mellitus and Crohn's disease.

It is important to discuss with your medical professional about the severity of these symptoms, to determine the intensity of treatment and provision of adequate support.
Types Of Psoriasis:

1. Plaque Psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis accounts for 80-90% of all cases. Psoriasis vulgaris is associated with other inflammatory disorders, including coronary artery disease and inflammatory bowel disease. It appears as salmon-pink or plaques, risen areas on the skin, with white or silvery scales. The most commonly affected areas include the front of the knees and backs of the elbows, the lower back, around the belly button, and the scalp.
2. Guttate Psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis tends to occur in childhood and early adulthood before the age of 30. It appears as small plaques usually found on the trunk and upper arms and legs about 2-3 weeks after a viral or bacterial upper respiratory infection such as tonsillitis.
3. Pustular Psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis may be widespread and appear as an inflamed elevation of the skin filled with pus. This form of psoriasis is associated with fever caused by infection or sudden withdrawal of systemic or very potent topical corticosteroids.
4. Erythrodermic Psoriasis. Erythroderma is a potentially life-threatening form of psoriasis in which the whole body surface is affected, leading to possible hypothermia and heart failure. It can be developed gradually from chronic plaque psoriasis, or suddenly, with little infection.
5. Flexural Psoriasis. Flexural psoriasis occurs in areas where the skin folds such as genital region, armpits, between the buttocks, and below the breasts. It can appear shiny and red, with plaques that don't have scales due to the moist nature of the areas in which they occur.
6. Sebo Psoriasis. Sebo psoriasis appears as greasy scales in the eyebrows, behind the ears, over the breastbone, and at the sides of the nose.
7. Palmoplantar Pustulosis. Palmoplantar pustulosis appears as yellow-brown pustules that occur on palms and soles.

How Are Nails Affected?
Approximately 50% of psoriasis sufferers notice changes in their fingernails, while 35% notice changes in their toenails. The nails change in discolourtion, appearing yellow or orange, thickened and abnormally shaped.
How is Psoriasis Treated?
Treatment of psoriasis comes in many forms and include:

1. Therapeutic option
2. Topical agents
3. Phototherapy and photochemotherapy
4. Systemic agents
5. Bone marrow transplantation

Topical agents
Topical agents applied directly to the skin, including lotions, creams, ointments, sprays, foams and gels, and can include:

• Emollients, which can reduce scales
• Corticosteroids, (strong steroids) can cause skin thinning, stretch marks, abnormal blood vessels and bruising
• Vitamin D analogues, less side effects than corticosteroids, causes skin irritation, itching, peeling, and dryness
• Tazarotene, topical retinoid a drug made from vitamin A, that is available as a gel or cream, and is usually applied once daily, in the evening
• Coal tar has an unpleasant smell, infected hair follicles, skin irritation, staining of clothing and potential to cause cancer.
• Dithranol, stains the skin a yellowish-brown colour. It is less effective than topical corticosteroids or vitamin D3 derivatives when used on its own

Phototherapy
Phototherapy is different wavelength of light radiation on affected skin. Broadband UVB and narrowband UVB can cause tanning, sunburn and skin cancer, but shows improvements within 20-25 treatments and can usually be cleared with approximately six weeks of phototherapy. PUVA photochemotherapy is the combination of psoralen (P), which makes the skin more sensitive to radiation, and may cause headache and nausea, skin burning, premature skin ageing and increase the risk of skin cancers with more than 250 treatments.
Systemic agents
Systemic agents, or medications that impact the whole body, rather than the applied area include:

• Methotrexate, a tablet that interferes with the production of new cells, prevents anaemia (low blood count), inflammation around the mouth (stomatitis), and to reduce gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or diarrhoea.
• Cyclosporin, a drug that reduces functioning parts of the immune system, and is effective as a short-term treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. Therapy should ideally be limited to 12 week short courses, which allows rapid improvement in symptoms.
• Retinoids, man-made hormones based on vitamin A that does not affect the immune system. Acitretin is the most commonly used retinoid for psoriasis and includes side effects of conjunctivitis (pink eye), hair loss, skin dryness, inflammation at the corners of the lips, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, problems with bones and ligaments, liver inflammation and increased pressure within the brain.
• Other systemic agents include fumarates (which have significant side effects involving the digestive system), and uncommonly used agents such as hydroxycarbamide, leflunomide, mycophenolate mofetil, sulphasalazine, azathioprine and 6-thioguanine, which all have less evidence supporting their use.
• Biological agents have the potential to result in cancer or serious infections, and rare instances of problems with the nervous system, liver failure, and worsening of heart failure. These include: Alefecept, Efalizumab, Etanercept, Infliximab, and Adalimumab.

Doctors and specialists closely monitor these treatments and patient experience. Doctors advise their patients on what is the best treatment for their psoriasis.
Social Medicine (Social-medicine.org), a health based social networking site, helps people suffering from a variety of health conditions, to globally connect, help and share information with others in similar situations, by focusing on bridging the gap of patient-to-patient communication, and patient-to-practitioner, with all the social networking features and functionality expected in today's society.
Social-medicine.org is designed to help individuals dealing with particular illnesses, to help share their thoughts, experiences, and knowledge with others who experience the same condition. Its emphasis is on connecting people and has all the social networking features and functionality expected.
Social-medicine.org focuses on illness sufferers within the health communities. Social Medicine fosters a community support experience, where real people in similar situations come together, to circumvent negative feelings like disconnection and loneliness, and focus on improving self-esteem, understanding, communication, relationships, and peer support.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Michael_J_Dornan/1201694
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