💾 Archived View for zaibatsu.circumlunar.space › ~krixano › phlog › 013019_Psoriasis.txt captured on 2020-09-24 at 01:56:31.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Psoriasis -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have said previously that I have Psoriasis, but I never said anything about what it actually is, so that is what this post will be about. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that appears as scaly patches on the skin. Chronic means that it is incurable and life-long. Autoimmune means that it involves the immune system - the immune system is *overactive* for people who have Psoriasis. Our immune systems attack our skin cells, causing our skin to grow faster than people without the disease. There are many different types, the most common being Plaque Psoriasis, where the scales on the skin are plaques. I have Guttate Psoriasis, which is the most common form for people diagnosed very young (more on this later). Guttate Psoriasis' scales are generally smaller and individual and spread out. However, a person with severe Guttate Psoriasis may still have big scales all over their body (I had severe Guttate Psoriasis when I was very young). There are some other forms, I don't know much about the differences except for one where the scales are under the skin rather than over. It is believed that you can also still get a different type of Psoriasis later on in life than the one you were originally diagnosed with. The accuracy of this is unknown to me may perhaps be disputed. Typically people "get" Psoriasis when they are an adult, and females have a higher chance than males. However, children can still "get" Psoriasis, although they are more likely to get Guttate Psoriasis. I was diagnosed at a very young age, sometime before 3rd Grade (but likely much earlier). I use the term "get" with quotes because Psoriasis is also *genetic*. It is passed down from parents (especially the mother) to children. However, this does not mean the disease is "activated". You can have the genes for the disease but not actually suffer the disease. The disease is often "activated" after severe sickness or injury. I had severe strep throat when I was younger, which could have been the cause for the activation. Typically, for a parent who has Psoriasis, 1 in 3 of their offspring would be passed the genes for Psoriasis. I have 3 fully biological siblings - I was the only one to be diagnosed with this condition. Psoriasis is also linked with Crohns Disease, which is why I think it's interesting that my older brother has Ulcerative Colitis (they are similar). Psoriasis is of course linked to depression (due to bullying and low self- esteem because of their appearance). It has also been linked with an increased risk of getting other diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, Cancer, Kidney Disease, of course Psoriatic Arthritis, and others [1]. My Psoriasis early on was severe. My whole body was covered in scales. Later on, it became moderate, then mild (which is where I'm at now). The typical locations where most people get Psoriasis are arms, inner thighs, genital region, chest, back, face, and the top of the head. The scales shed a bit, especially on the head where they cause dandruff. They can itch a lot, which is why many Psoriasis medications focus on reducing this particular symptom. Scratching the scales can sometimes cause you to bleed or irritate them. Winter is particularly bad because it can cause the scales to dry out, making them very painful, and sometimes crack and bleed. Psoriasis mediation also focuses on keeping the skin moisturized as well as keeping the scales shed and reducing redness (the scales are often red). One of the problems I had when I was younger was that I would get Psoriasis severely on my inner thighs. These would often dry out and crack and bleed a little and make it very painful to walk or wear underwear. While Psoriasis cannot be cured, the symptoms can be reduced. Medications focus on shedding and reducing scales, moisurizing the skin, reducing redness, and reducing dandruff (for shampoos). Psoriasis' symptoms can seem unpredictable - sometimes you have good times, and sometimes you don't. However, Psoriasis' increase in symptoms has been linked with stress and injury. It has also been observed (although not entirely proven) that diet can also affect a person with Psoriasis. Early on in life, it was recommended that people with Psoriasis get as much sun as possible (unless you are taking medications that require you to not be in direct sunlight). However, now it is recommended less so due to the higher risk of getting Cancer. There is UV Therapy as a treatment for severe Psoriasis. Other treatments also include pills and topical ointments or creams. You can find more information about Psoriasis at the National Psoriasis Foundation website [2]. [1] https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/related-conditions [2] https://www.psoriasis.org/