Psoriasis disease is considered to be not just a skin condition. It is a real skin disorder manifesting in different forms and possible to appear at any age. First such name to the disease was given in 1841 by the Austrian dermatologist Ferdinand von Hebra. But historians note that even in ancient times there were some descriptions of psoriasis.
Psoriasis disease is driven by the immune system, particularly involving the so-called "T cell" (type of white blood cell). Normally T cells are known to protect the human body from variable disease and infection. But in case of psoriasis disease the mentioned cells are put into action by some kind of mistake and begin to trigger other immune responses leading to the rapid turnover of skin cells.
It's is worth admitting that psoriasis disease may for the first time be caused by mental or emotional stress, skin injury. But the major factor is heredity. So, in 30% of psoriasis cases the reason of the disease is family history. According to recent studies of many researchers genes are an integral link to the psoriasis disease.
Thus, it is strange but still there's no definite cause of psoriasis. The areas affected by this disease begin to grow much faster than usually and form scaling, red, silvery patches. The commonly affected by psoriasis disease areas of the human's body are knees, elbows, navel, palms, groin, ears and scalp. However any part of the body may be involved. Often psoriasis disease is accompanied by irritation and unpleasant feelings.
According to medical practice several types of this common and chronic skin disease and known nowadays. First, plaque psoriasis is expressed by red skin lesions covered by silvery scales. This is the most common form of psoriasis disease affecting approximately 82% of the world population. People have plaques on some parts of their skin which are often reoccurring. The cause of plaque psoriasis has not been yet completely understood. But generally it is considered to be the auto-immune disease.
The second form of psoriasis disease is called guttate psoriasis. Doctors believe it is mostly trigged by different upper respiratory infections such as sore throat. The common symptoms of guttate psoriasis are small pink or red spots on some parts of the skin. Usually this parts are pretty large and found on the back, chest, legs or arms. The disease very often appears in younger patients having strep throat. Many cases of guttate psoriasis are very persistent and require appropriate treatment.
Among other psoriasis disease forms there are pustular, inverse and erythrodermic psoriasis. But high attention should be paid to psoriatic arthritis - a particular pattern of arthritis seen with people having psoriasis disease. The joints affected by this kind of arthritis become tiff, swollen and tiff.
Be aware there's no magic cure for psoriasis. There are only some specific treatments available to control the disease and improve the patient's condition and quality of life.