One of the most chronic and emotionally detrimental ailments currently affecting some 18 million Americans is psoriasis dermatitis.
The disease has wreaked havoc in the lives of its sufferers for centuries. The recurrent nature of psoriasis dermatitis makes it very difficult to treat effectively, and long-term treatments are difficult to find.
Often, the treatments entail toxic chemicals that can lead to more health issues. Sometimes merely a nuisance, other times absolutely debilitating – psoriasis dermatitis is a challenging problem to deal with.
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Psoriasis dermatitis has indeed been around a long time – likely since man first walked the planet. The infamous lepers of the Bible likely suffered from severe psoriasis that caused people to shun them for fear of contracting the entirely non-contagious disease. Ancient Egyptian and Greek doctors noted the condition and mummies have been found with signs of psoriasis on their remains. So treatment for it has not been a lightly researched topic throughout the centuries. As the inflammation and scaly flakes are on the surface of the skin, topical agents were typically applied in an attempt to relieve the itching and swelling. Physicians have used everything from manure to sulfur over the years. Today, most cases are treated with some form of topical ointment or cream, but many cases require prescription pills or intrusive chemicals. Psoriasis is thought to be largely hereditary, as the disease and its mechanisms are very much associated with the DNA of a victim. Outside of genetic factors, doctors and scientists have thus far been unable to identify a definitive cause and much of the research on the subject is conducted on the management of the itching, swelling, pain and irritation. Research for a cure does continue, however, due to the serious nature of some forms of psoriasis. Since the disease primarily affects the skin – which is our largest organ – concerns over the body’s ability to regulate temperature and the skin’s ability to effectively act as a barrier against germs and foreign material are severely compromised.
People with psoriasis dermatitis are also at a much higher risk of developing psoriatic arthritis, a degenerative disease that cause swollen, painful joints and disfigured hands and fingers. Thick, yellowing fingernails or toenails are a possible sign of psoriatic arthritis.
There are various levels of treatment available for victims of psoriasis dermatitis. In the great majority of mild to moderate cases, a topical treatment is applied as a barrier and treatment for the underlying symptoms. These ointments typically contain some form of corticosteroid to reduce the associated inflammation. Corticosteroids are sometimes administered orally or by injection. Slightly more intense outbreaks are often treated with phototherapy. Certain ultraviolet rays can significantly inhibit the production of new skin cells, dramatically slowing the progression of the psoriasis. Sunlight is good but carries its own dangers for your skin. Advances in medical techniques allow doctors to administer UVB rays more precisely and with less risk of skin cancer. In severe cases, drugs used in some forms of cancer treatment may be required. Many times doctors choose to use a combination of methods, especially combining various light therapies with drugs that can make your skin more sensitive to light.
Psoriasis dermatitis is one of the fastest growing health issues in the country today. The complex nature of just how the disease operates, as well as a shortage of truly effective treatments makes dealing with the disease a challenging and frustrating task. The American Academy of Dermatology has much helpful advice on potential remedies.
One of the primary complaints of psoriasis dermatitis sufferers is that the symptoms often change, or that a treatment option that had worked well for a while is suddenly affording no relief. This is due to the manner in which psoriasis can change the way it manifests itself on the skin and the fact that the flaky, swollen conditions often come and go. In addition, there are numerous forms of psoriasis requiring numerous forms of treatment, and diagnosis is often no more than a visual inspection – so effective treatment is often a hit-and-miss proposition. The condition is associated with an immune system that is not reading signals from the body correctly and therefore sends out inflammatory cells, which begin the plaque-generating process. The problem is that the immune system has many different types of cells that can cause many different types of reactions, so pinpointing a medicine or treatment can be difficult. The often-hereditary nature of psoriasis dermatitis – as well as simply having no real cure – means the disease is often a lifelong battle. Also, triggers for outbreaks are often ambiguous – sometimes a stressful situation can cause a months-long episode. Changes in the weather, certain vitamins and over-the-counter medicines, even alcohol consumption – these and a long list of other things can contribute to an outbreak or worsening of symptoms. All of these complex chemical reactions and various hormonal surges make psoriasis dermatitis an elusive target for researchers. Lately, there has been a push for patients to institute certain lifestyle changes – in conjunction with medication or light therapy – to see if there are certain factors that can be controlled. Reducing stress, losing weight, and improving diet are ways doctors are suggesting people basically allow their bodies to fight off attacks of psoriasis dermatitis.
Obviously, the emotional and mental challenges facing someone with psoriasis dermatitis are great. As stated, people with skin diseases were shunned for centuries, and even today there is are misconceptions that the ailment could be contagious, or that the person with psoriasis contracted the disease through some type of unsanitary practice or poor hygiene. Hygiene is definitely not a primary cause – bathing can actually exacerbate an outbreak by drying the skin. Often times, the disease does severely disfigure and blemish the skin, leaving the victim intensely self-conscious and embarrassed. Depression and becoming isolated and introverted are common among psoriasis sufferers. They tend to avoid social gatherings and dating or intimacy. The fact that an outbreak can happen almost anywhere on the body can make going to the beach or even wearing lighter, shorter clothing in the summer time a scary thought.
