Psoriasis is a chronic disorder that primarily affects the skin. It occurs in about 3% of Australians and affects both men and women. Even though people can acquire psoriasis at any age, it occurs mostly in people between 16 and 22 years of age as well as those between 57 and 60 years. It has no known causes but several predisposing factors such as a family history of psoriasis, prior streptococcal infections, medications such as Beta blockers, and skin trauma, among others. When psoriasis occurs after skin trauma, it is known as Koebner phenomenon.
Psoriasis is a debilitating disease and can lead to a poor quality of life in those who are affected by it. Sufferers tend to have psychological issues such as low self-esteem, poor body image, and social withdrawal, and depression.
How do you know if you have psoriasis?
To minimise the physical and psychological problems associated with psoriasis, it is important to know what psoriasis looks like at the start so that treatment can commence as soon as possible. Some warning signs that may lead to a suspicion of psoriasis include:
- Where does psoriasis first appear? In most individuals, psoriasis begins as rashes around the knees and elbows before it spreads to the rest of the body.
- What does psoriasis look like? Psoriasis differs from other skin disorders such as eczema because they look like plaques. These plaques can be either red or pink in colour and covered by silvery-white scales. They also tend to itch and may even bleed in severe cases
- How do you get psoriasis? Skin plaques that develop after skin trauma, medication use, or streptococcal infection should lead to a suspicion of psoriasis, especially if they develop around the joints.
Several treatment options are available to people that have been diagnosed with psoriasis. Some available options include stress reduction, taking vitamin supplements, or the use of topical creams, among others. Hope’s Relief offer a number of products made with natural ingredients which can be used to treat the symptoms of psoriasis. For further information about psoriasis visit our Skin Conditions page as well as treatment options available at Hope’s Relief, contact us.