Psoriasis is a skin disease that affects approximately 2% of the world’s population and shows recurrent features. In this disease, it is called psoriasis among the people because of the white, thick, shiny and dry dandruff observed on a pink-red, slightly fluffy background. While the disease lasts for a few months or a few years in some patients, it may progress with exacerbation and recovery periods for a lifetime in some patients. The severity of the rash may differ from person to person. It has a mild course in most of the patients and is limited to certain areas such as knees, elbows and scalp. In some patients, the rash may spread to the whole body. It is more likely to occur at a young age. The presence of this disease in the family due to genetic predisposition increases the risk of psoriasis in family members. Psoriasis is not contagious.
CAUSES AND TRIGGERS OF Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a disease of unknown cause. It has been revealed that the immune system is stimulated for various reasons (stress, medication, infection), and this accelerates the growth of skin cells. While normal skin cells mature in 28-30 days, this period can be reduced to 3-4 days in psoriasis patients. Thus, rapidly proliferating cells accumulate on the skin surface and cause thick dandruff. It can occur as a result of cuts on the skin, scratching, excessive sunburn.
SYMPTOMS OF Psoriasis
There are different forms of psoriasis. Not every psoriasis is the same. It may show different characteristics in children, adults and the elderly. In the skin; It is characterized by a well-defined, pink-colored plaque, with silver-colored dandruff on the surface. Dandruff is dry and appears as spots that bleed if scraped. When you rub your hand against your skin, it becomes like dust. In psoriasis, apart from skin findings, joint pain, limitation of movement in the joints, small pits on the nail surface, separation from the nail bed and thickening of the nail, yellowing can be seen.
DIAGNOSIS OF Psoriasis
In order to be diagnosed, you must first be examined by a dermatologist. The disease can be diagnosed by physical examination. Although the disease is rare, it can be difficult to diagnose. In this case, the diagnosis is made as a result of tests performed by taking a biopsy from the skin.
The severity of the disease, its course, location, type of disease give an idea for the type of treatment to be applied. Although it can be controlled with appropriate treatment, it is a chronic disease and affects the patient’s life.
TREATMENT OF Psoriasis
First of all, it is decided how the treatment will be done. For this, the patient’s age, lifestyle, course and severity of the disease are taken into account. The purpose of the treatment of this disease; It is to prevent the shedding of the skin and to reduce the formation of joint damage. Topical treatments are given primarily in patients with limited lesions that are not very common. If psoriasis is widespread or there is resistance to topical treatments, treatment with ultraviolet A or B light sources can be done. Apart from this, systemic retinoids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and biological treatments applied by injection may be preferred depending on the condition of the person. It may not be possible to get pregnant for a long time during and sometimes after systemic treatments in psoriasis. For this reason, it is necessary to have the examinations done at appropriate intervals and go to the controls.
