PsoriasisPsoriasisBy: Angie Vasquez By: Angie Vasquez

and Marsa Eglip and Marsa Eglip

IntroductionIntroduction

Basic description of psoriasisBasic description of psoriasisSymptomsSymptomsGenetic causeGenetic causeDiagnosisDiagnosisPrognosisPrognosisTreatment Treatment Prevention Prevention

Basic Description Basic Description

Psoriasis is a lifelong disease of the Psoriasis is a lifelong disease of the immune system that causes red, scaly immune system that causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. There are patches to appear on the skin. There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic. inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic.

Plaque is most common among psoriasis Plaque is most common among psoriasis types. 1.5 million Americans suffer from types. 1.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis. psoriasis.

Plaque

Inverse

Guttate

PustularErythrodermic

SymptomsSymptoms

The classic symptom of psoriasis are The classic symptom of psoriasis are raised red patches of skin topped with raised red patches of skin topped with loose, silvery scales, usually on the knees loose, silvery scales, usually on the knees or elbows.or elbows.

““My skin feels hot and almost a swelling My skin feels hot and almost a swelling feeling.” -npf-7707(Kellibelli)feeling.” -npf-7707(Kellibelli)

Genetic CauseGenetic Cause

The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, but it is believed that a combination of but it is believed that a combination of several factors contributes to the several factors contributes to the development of this disease.development of this disease.

Psoriasis causes white blood cells called Psoriasis causes white blood cells called

T-cells to become overactive.T-cells to become overactive.

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T-Cells “attack” the T-Cells “attack” the skin and set off a skin and set off a cascade of events cascade of events that make the skin that make the skin cells multiply so fast cells multiply so fast they start to stack up they start to stack up on the surface of the on the surface of the skin. skin.

Normal cells form Normal cells form and flake off every 30 and flake off every 30 days and psoriasis days and psoriasis cells go through the cells go through the process every 3-6 process every 3-6 days.days. Psoriasis Cells

DiagnosisDiagnosis

The doctor looks at the skin to diagnosis.The doctor looks at the skin to diagnosis.The doctor would usually do a skin biopsy.The doctor would usually do a skin biopsy.A skin biopsy is the removal of a piece of A skin biopsy is the removal of a piece of

skin.skin.

PrognosisPrognosis

Mild psoriasis types( plaque, guttate, and Mild psoriasis types( plaque, guttate, and inverse) are not determined to health or inverse) are not determined to health or life-threatening. life-threatening.

Severe psoriasis types( pustular, Severe psoriasis types( pustular, erythrodermic and psoriatic arthritis) can erythrodermic and psoriatic arthritis) can be detrimental to health; in most cases, be detrimental to health; in most cases, they are not lethal.they are not lethal.

TreatmentTreatment

A type of treatment would be lotions, A type of treatment would be lotions, ointments, creams, shampoos, pills, and ointments, creams, shampoos, pills, and injections that effect the whole body. injections that effect the whole body.

A type of therapy would be phototherapy A type of therapy would be phototherapy that uses light to treat psoriasis.that uses light to treat psoriasis.

PreventionsPreventions

A prevention is unknown. Keeping the A prevention is unknown. Keeping the skin clean and moist and avoiding specific skin clean and moist and avoiding specific psoriasis triggers may help reduce the psoriasis triggers may help reduce the number of flare ups. number of flare ups.

Doctors recommend daily baths or Doctors recommend daily baths or showers. Avoid scrubbing to hard, showers. Avoid scrubbing to hard, because this can irritate the skin and because this can irritate the skin and trigger an attack.trigger an attack.

ConclusionConclusion

So in conclusion, psoriasis is a lifelong So in conclusion, psoriasis is a lifelong disease. disease.

Plaque is the most common out of the Plaque is the most common out of the five different types. five different types.

It can’t be cured but it can be controlled It can’t be cured but it can be controlled with lotions, ointments, and other products with lotions, ointments, and other products for psoriasis.for psoriasis.

Work CitedWork Cited

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/dishttp://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/psoriasis/overview.htmlease/psoriasis/overview.html

http://www.psoriasis-aid.com/psoriasis/prohttp://www.psoriasis-aid.com/psoriasis/prognosis_of_psoriasis.htmlgnosis_of_psoriasis.html

http://www.psoriasis-aid.com/http://www.psoriasis-aid.com/psoriasis_pictures_50_psoriasis_pictures_psoriasis_pictures_50_psoriasis_pictures_by_types_locations.html by_types_locations.html

Work Cited ContinuedWork Cited Continued

http://dermaharmony.com/psoriasis/http://dermaharmony.com/psoriasis/default.aspxdefault.aspx

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art/.asp?.articlekey=7203art/.asp?.articlekey=7203

http://www.lifescript.com/health/A-Z/http://www.lifescript.com/health/A-Z/condition_A-Z/conditions/p/condition_A-Z/conditions/p/pemphigus.aspxpemphigus.aspx