Psoriasis

By: Richard Haigh

Psoriasis is a common skin condition which affects over 2% of the population in the United States. Typically featured as patchy, raised, red areas of skin inflammation with scaling, psoriasis often affects the tips of the elbows and knees, the scalp, navel, and around the anus and genital areas.

Quite of few of people with psoriasis, also develop an associated inflammation of their joints which often is diagnosed as having psoriatic arthritis. And about 1 in 10 people with psoriasis will also develop inflammation of joints.

Psoriatic arthritis belongs to a group of arthritis conditions that may cause inflammation of the spine. The cause of psoriatic arthritis is currently unknown, but a combination of genetic and immune factors as well as environmental factors, are likely involved.

Psoriasis and the joint disease arthritis often appear separately as the arthritis may precede the psoriasis in the majority of patients. Psoriatic arthritis often occurs within both males and females over the age of fifty and affects.Many people will have arthritis for twenty years or more before they get psoriasis.

Patients may have psoriasis for over twenty years prior to the development of arthritis which eventually leads to the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Patients with psoriatic arthritis may also develop inflammation of tendons, cartilage, eyes, lining of the lungs, and occasionally the aorta. Psoriatic arthritic may also mimic the pattern seen with rheumatoid arthritis.

There are lots different treatments that are available to help control psoriasis. Some of them will be found over the counter at the local supermarket while others require a prescription. Not every treatment will work for each and everyone so the idea is to find a treatment that will work the best for each individual case with the fewest side effects.

Topical corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed treatments for psoriasis. They are synthetic drugs which resemble naturally occurring hormones in the body and are available in varying strengths and formulations including lotions, creams, solutions, sprays, gels, and ointments.

Corticosteroids act by slowing down the development of skin cells and lessening the irritation of lesions in patients with psoriasis. Even as corticosteroids may quickly clear lesions, they do not create long term remissions so the lesions linked with psoriasis may happen again after a short term. Side effects are many and may embrace stretch marks or scars on the skin.

Topical therapies have remain the foundation of action for most patients distressed with mild psoriasis. Topical treatments work comparatively quickly at clearing lesions and are characteristically tolerated by the most of psoriasis sufferers.

Nevertheless, topical treatments must be used frequently to stay successful and are often not able to preserve remission of an outbreak. Dithranol is a topical therapy which has been used often to calm psoriasis. It can be successful for mild to moderate psoriasis and is often used with ultraviolet treatments for patients with more harsh psoriasis.

There are a few major issues which limit the use of Dithranol because it can cause annoyance and burning to the skin and can stain everything it comes in contact with.

As more people have been active partners in their treatment of psoriasis, interest in alternative medicine has grown by leaps and bounds. While complementary and alternative treatments are becoming more common, it is important to note that to date they have not been tested and studied to the same extent as conventional medical treatments.

Article Source: www.harperandassociatesinsurance.com

Before you buy anything online, make sure you check to see what Aloe Vera can do for you articles, and sign up to recieve 15 health tips weekly newletter

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Additional Articles From - Home | Health & Fitness | Alternative Medicine

Treatment For Urinary Tract Infections - By : Aneron Kepasil
Good News For Bronchitis Fever Sufferers - By : Rickey Henolap
Bronchitis Lung - By : Rickey Henolap
Effective Remedies To Cure Sciatica - By : Aneron Kepasil
Joint Pain And Arthritis - The Inflammatory Disease - By : Dennis Felton
A Natural Way To Alleviate Hemorrhoids Pain - By : Aneron Kepasil
Learn About Osteopathy - By : James Lunden
Learn About Core Energetics - By : James Lunden
IBS Syndrome - By : Runal Keronil
Tips To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids In A Natural Way - By : Aneron Kepasil.

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email to Friends
	Ezine Ready

Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds

Home
Contact Us
Link to Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

HARPERANDASSOCIATESINSURANCE.com » Copyright © 2006
Terms of Service | Submission Guidelines | Contact Us | Link to Us| Privacy Policy | About Us