Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are two symptoms of a single disease caused by an overactive immune system attacking the skin and joints of the affected individual. The “t-cells” or white blood cells that fight infection within your body are also the cause of psoriasis. Psoriasis is characterized by red patches of inflamed skin with a build-up of silvery-white colored dead skin or scale. Psoriatic arthritis is similar to rheumatoid arthritis as it is an inflammation of the joints. This inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and even disfigurement. The same white blood cells attacking the skin are also attacking the cartilage in the joints. However, what is causing the white blood cells to attack the skin and joints is still unclear.
“Scientists believe that at least 10 percent of the general population inherits one or more of the genes that create a predisposition to psoriasis. However, only 2 percent to 3 percent of the population develops the disease. Researchers believe that for a person to develop psoriasis, the individual must have a combination of the genes that cause psoriasis and be exposed to specific external factors known as triggers". (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2013a)
While it is scientifically unproven, some triggers suspected to be causing the psoriasis to flare up are stress, injury to the skin itself (known as the Koebner phenomenon), medications that treat other health conditions, and infections. (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2013a)
Psoriasis can appear on any part of the body. It is more likely to develop on the scalp, elbows, hands, groin, knees, legs and feet. It can also cause thick, discolored finger and toe nails. Psoriasis is known to be hereditary, meaning that the gene that causes the disease ca...
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...atment option your doctor suggests, careful monitoring and follow-up visits are required to successfully combat the symptoms.
Works Cited
Carrasco, J. (2011). Psoriasis: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Hauppage, NY: Nova Science Publishers
Retrieved from the Kaplan University Library.
National Psoriasis Foundation (2013a). Retrieved from https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/causes National Psoriasis Foundation (2013b). Retrieved from https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/related-conditions National Psoriasis Foundation (2013c). Retrieved from https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/types National Psoriasis Foundation (2013d). Retrieved from https://www.psoriasis.org/learn_statistics National Psoriasis Foundation (2013e). Retrieved from https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriatic-arthritis/diagnosis Xtrac (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.xtracnow.com
(“Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”, 2012). The primary factor in developing SLE is a genetic component although it is not fully understood (Robinson, Sheets Cook, & Currie, 2011). It has been shown that identical twins have a concordance rate of 24% whereas fraternal twins have a rate of 2% (“Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”, 2012). In addition, individuals have an 8-fold increased risk of developing SLE if they have a first-degree relative with the disease (Richman & Schub,
· genetics: occasionally the disease has a tendency to run in certain families (inherited or genetic predisposition), but this is not common.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory and an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissue (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017). This disease affects the entire body, which is called a systemic (means entire body) disease. Arthritis is derived from the word part arthr-, which means “joint,” and -itis, which means “inflammation,” so altogether it means “inflammation of the joints.” It creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (synovium) to thicken. About 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. It affects all races, but it affects three times as many women than men (What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, n.d.). Overtime, rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling that can potentially result in bone erosion or joint deformity, which leads up to physical disabilities. RA can affect more than just your joints, but can spread to body systems, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, e.t.c (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017).
requiered to determine treatment. Lab tests or imaging is often requiered as well. It’s chronic,
Rosendo is a 32-year-old male who suffers from chronic plaque psoriasis (L40.0), along with psoriatic arthritis. His symptoms include dry, itchy, scaly, large, thick patches of plaques, located on his arms, back, legs, scalp, and behind his ears, as well as experiencing tenderness in the knees and fingers. Rosendo has tried and failed various treatments including triamcinolone, which provided little to no relief. Cosentyx was denied stating that the records sent do not show that he has tried another medication like Methotrexate, Cyclosporine or Acitretin. He is not a candidate for Methotrexate, Acitretin, and Cyclosporine as they have Black Box warnings due to the dangerousness of the side effects causes by these specific treatments, in addition
You and your doctor will work together to choose a treatment that's best for you. This article can help you make that choice.
Discussion between the physician and the patient regarding treatment options and the risks and benefits of treatment.
Kasman, D. L. (2004). When is medical treatment futile? Journal of General Internal Medicine, 1053-1056.
And you don't want another trip to your health care provider just because you have a few aches and pains or worries about your family health history. So let's just wait and see what happens and deal with these issues as, and when, they present a serious problem.
Arthritis occurs when the body incorrectly identifies its own tissue as foreign matter and attacks it. Arthritis includes a set of more than eighty autoimmune diseases. Arthritis attacks connective tissues and joints. It causes stiffness, pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Some kinds are crippling, but rarely leads to death. There are many different kinds of arthritis, the main ones being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis; others include gout and ankylosing spodylitis.
The symptoms of psoriasis differ from type to type, although inflamed, scaly lesions are present in all five types. The most common form of the disease, plaque psoriasis, is identified by small bumps that begin to grow and become scaly. These lesions flake easily, but removing these patches can cause the tender skin below to bleed. In the Guttate type, small, individual, red drops form. This type does not have as much scaling as plaque psoriasis. The drops usually clear up on their own, but may also reappear as a different form of psoriasis, usually plaque. Inverse psoriasis usually occurs in places where the skin folds, such as the genitals, breasts, armpits or the backs of knees. This type will appear red, yet it will be smooth and dry. Also, no scaling will occur. Pustular psoriasis is a type that's significantly more rare. It is also more painful. In this type, blisters filled with non-infectious pus appear within a few hours and then dry up and peel within another two days. Severe medical risks exist for those who have this particular form of psoriasis, due to its side effects; exhaustion, anemia, weight loss, fever, chills, rapid pulse rate, severe itching and muscle weakness. Even less common than pustular psoriasis is erythrodermic psoriasis. This type is...
Therapy is the most commonly used treatment for symptoms. A variety of therapy treatments are offered for patients based on their specific characteristics and what th...
Acne vulgaris, the medical term for common acne; is the most common skin disease. It is so common that nearly eighty-five percent of the population will develop some form of acne at some time between the ages of twelve and twenty-five years. Although there are several theories about what causes acne, medical doctors generally agree that acne is a by-product of hormonal changes in the body.
Skin problems: stress aggravates the skin and will cause skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Stress is also relation to rashes which are unexplained and itchy.