by Vladimire Herard

Genetics, environmental factors, whether severity warrants a visit to the doctor’s office, the variety of solutions and triggers such as injury, illness or irritation determine how you treat psoriasis.

Each case of psoriasis is different as are the number of means of treating this illness.

Once considered a dermatological condition, psoriasis turned out to be a chronic, immune-oriented, inflammatory disease that accelerates the growth and loss of skin cells, research shows.

Nationwide, it is the most common autoimmune illness with eight million patients. Psoriasis can afflict anyone but it mostly impacts three age groups: those in their prime, middle-aged individuals and senior citizens.

Symptoms include scaly patches of silver in the elbows and knees, which can also be found in the back, face, nails, palms and soles of the feet. Psoriasis also strikes the areas of the body that can be rubbed together such as armpits, breasts and the groin.

Causes of the disorder are yet to be known but genetics and environment factors in. A bout of psoriasis can be triggered by certain foods, dry skin, infection, medicine and their side effects and stress.

About 33 percent of all psoriasis patients have a relative stricken with the condition.

Research finds that if both parents carry the illness, then their children are 50 percent more likely to develop it as well. The odds drop to 16 percent if one parent carries the condition. Additionally, if one twin has psoriasis, the other twin may also have it.

Psoriasis develops in the midst of disruptions in the immune system. If the immune system is overstimulated, it is kept in an inflammatory state, which speeds up changes in skin cells and related processes.

Typically, skin cells turn over every three weeks to a month. However, morbidity in psoriasis leads to a higher turnover in skin cells in a matter of three to four days.

Whether a visit the doctor or the emergency room is warranted depends on the severity and form of the disease.

If psoriasis affects a large part of the body, namely 75 percent or more, or a sensitive area, you need to set a medical appointment with your doctor or dermatologist or visit the hospital. Some forms of the disease may hurt and cause death if not treated.

Psoriasis is associated with other serious illnesses such as heart disease, metabolic disorders and Crohn disease. In fact, a severe case may render a patient’s life span shorter by several years in large part because of the presence of cardiovascular illness.

The immune disorder also impacts a patient’s standard of living. A sufferer of psoriasis is more likely to experience and be diagnosed with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

Indeed, research finds that the majority of patients have attributed their lower quality of life and mental health to the onset and development of psoriasis.

This is due to the symptoms of the illness such as pain and itching and other factors such as the side effects and inconvenience of the type of treatment needed, the lack of efficacy and the lack of adherence on the part of the patient, including overdose.

Mild-to-moderate psoriasis may call for topical skin creams, lotions and ointments while the severe stage may require systemic or photo therapy as well as topical remedies, which may bring pain, discomfort and despair to the patient.

Skin treatments and drugs may include coal tar, corticosteroids, Epsom salt baths, keratolytic agents, oatmeal baths, sun exposure therapy and vitamin D analogues or other nutritional supplements.

In commercial form, they include the oft-advertised market brands Cosentyx, also known as Secukinumab, Enbrel or etanercept, Humira or adalimumab and Trexall or methotrexate.

These medications are known to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and enthesitis-related arthritis.

Their side effects include bronchitis, diarrhea, fever, fungal infections, inflammatory bowel disease, exhaustion, itching, oral herpes, hives, respiratory tract infections, runny nose, skin rash, stomach pain, swelling of the face or lips and weight loss.