You have been diagnosed with psoriasis and would now like to find out more about this disease. First of all, you should know that psoriasis is not contagious. However, it can cause severe suffering and affect your everyday life. There are effective treatment options and some things you can do yourself.
What is psoriasis?
Human skin consists of millions of tiny skin cells and normally renews itself within 3 to 4 weeks. This period is shortened to a few days in people with psoriasis because the cells of the top layer of skin “migrate” to the surface of the skin more quickly than in healthy skin. As a result, such cells form shiny scales on red patches of skin.
Psoriasis progresses differently from person to person. In some people, it goes away on its own after a while, but most of the time, it remains permanently. Periods of more or less skin problems often alternate in phases. Itching often occurs.
Psoriasis most commonly occurs on the scalp, behind the ears, on the elbows, knees, and buttocks. However, it can also occur on other skin parts, such as the belly button, genital area, or nails.
Experts classify the disease into several levels of severity. Whether it is mild or moderate to severe psoriasis depends, among other things, on the area of the affected skin. When classifying the disease, it is also important whether the scalp, nails, hands, feet or genitals are affected. It also plays a role in whether you can manage your everyday life independently.
About one in five sufferers suffer from painful and swollen joints, especially in the hands and feet, so-called psoriatic arthritis. This means that the affected joints are inflamed.
Certain diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, depression or cancer are more common in people with psoriasis.
When does psoriasis occur?
About 2 in 100 people have psoriasis. The disease is hereditary. Several members of a family can be affected. In addition to the predisposition, various triggering factors can play a role:
- irritated or injured skin
- Stress, psychological strain
- Infections
- Smoke
- Taking certain medications, such as beta-blockers for high blood pressure
- hormonal changes, for example, during pregnancy
- climatic influences, for example, in spring or autumn
Sometimes the triggers cannot be identified.