Psoriasis, pronounced “Sore eye a sis” is a disease that afflicts about 3% of the population. It occurs worldwide and affects both sexes. It is known to run in families but can skip a generation.
It is named after the Greek word for “itch” and the main symptom is the intense suffering of the painful itching. That is what the sufferer is aware of what others see is red patches of skin covered with silvery scales. The scales slough off and resemble dandruff.
What is happening within the layers making up the skin is an increased rate of cell division. The cycles that regulate the growth of skin cells become unbalanced and the skin cells in Psoriasis reproduce up to 1,000 times more rapidly than normal leading to a pile up of cells yielding the silvery scales on the outer layer of the skin.
Psoriasis is most common on the elbows and knees as well as on the scalp, but can appear anywhere on the skin.
This can make the psoriasis sufferer very self conscious and even depressed
Types of psoriasis
Plaque Psoriasis
This is the most common form of psoriasis and is named after the areas of white scales or plaques. It affects 80 to 90% of people with psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis usually appears as raised areas of inflamed skin covered with silvery white scaly skin – the plaques.
Guttate psoriasis
This is shown by many oval spots on the skin over large areas of the scalp, trunk or on the arms and legs
Flexural psoriasis
This occurs in folds of skin – in the armpits for example or around the genitals.
But Psoriasis can also involve the nails and even the joints so we have
Nail Psoriasis
Pitting of the nail occurs and many lines going across it. Under the nail may be discoloured and the nail itself may be crumbly and loose.
Psoriasis of the Joints
This affects about 10 to 15% of Psoriasis sufferers and mostly affects the joints of the fingers and toes
After reading all this you may feel depressed but I want to emphasise that many simple changes in diet, the use of special supplements and the sensible use of mineral baths and sunshine may make a huge difference.
For details on natural remedies see this eBook by Katy Wilson
Filed under Symptoms by on Aug 7th, 2009. 4 Comments. 
