5 little-known psoriasis facts

Medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks

In all likelihood you know someone with psoriasis - about 1 in 50 people in the UK has this skin condition. Regardless, many people are unaware of the true nature of psoriasis, a skin condition that has been misunderstood for centuries.

A history of mistaken beliefs

The name 'psoriasis' is from ancient Greek, with 'psora' meaning 'itch' and 'sis' meaning 'condition'. Psoriasis has been around for thousands of years. Some Egyptian mummies have been found that, when unwrapped, revealed the person had psoriasis. It is thought that the word 'tsaraat' which appears in the Old Testament in the Bible, used for all references to skin diseases, could possibly be referring to psoriasis at times - a person with tsaraat was thought to have been punished for a sin.
It was once thought that psoriasis was a contagious disease, so people with the condition suffered the same social stigma as those with leprosy - and the two conditions were sometimes confused. People with psoriasis were often shunned and isolated. If you had psoriasis in Medieval Europe, you would have to ring a clapper to warn others of your arrival. It was only in the 19th century that researchers classified psoriasis as a separate condition from leprosy and it wasn't until the 20th century that scientists realised it is an autoimmune disease.
Treatments for psoriasis were just as much off the mark as the misconceptions on how someone got the condition. Old-fashioned remedies included using faeces from cats and dogs, onions mixed with salt and urine, semen and goose oil, and toxic ingredients such as arsenic, nitrate and mercury. At one point, people with psoriasis were lubricated and then wrapped up in sheets for days at a time, believing that this treatment would loosen the scales.
Here are 5 facts about psoriasis to help give you a better understanding of the condition - and to dispel the myths.

1. Psoriasis is more than skin deep.

If you notice patches of thick red skin covered with silvery scales on someone, you may realise that person has psoriasis. Some people mistakenly think these scales are caused by poor nutrition or hygiene, or by an allergy. However, the condition is caused by something going wrong with the immune system inside the body. The T-cells that should be fighting off bacteria and other invading germs mistakenly attack healthy skin cells. These patches occur because the skin cells have to replace themselves too quickly, within 3 to 7 days rather than the typical 3 to 4 weeks. There is inflammation and scaling at the site that can be itchy and sore.

2. There's more than one type of psoriasis - and they don't all look the same.

Four out of 5 cases will be of plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris), noted for dry, red scaly lesions known as plaques on the skin. Other types of psoriasis include scalp psoriasis (with patches on the scalp), nail psoriasis (half of people with psoriasis will also have malformed nails), guttate psoriasis (drop-shaped sores appear on the arms, legs, chest and scalp), inverse, or flexural, psoriasis (red shiny areas form in the folds or creases of the skin such as the armpits, groin or under the breasts, especially in hot weather), pustular psoriasis (a rare type noted by pus-filled blisters that may be generalised or limited to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet or the fingers and toes) and erythrodermic psoriasis (where nearly all the skin on the body is affected).

3. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is linked to psoriasis.

On average in every 5 people with psoriasis, within 10 years of the first symptoms, one of them will have psoriatic arthritis. This condition affects the joints as well as the joins between tendon and bone. A person with PsA will have stiff joints that are tender and swollen, with pain that is more noticeable after resting; their fingers and toes will be swollen and the condition affects their nails.

4. The symptoms of psoriasis often appear after a trigger.

The symptoms of psoriasis can come and go. Whether it's the first occurrence or a flare-up, the symptoms often appear after some type of trigger, including an injury to the skin (such as from a cut, scrape, sunburn, insect bite or tattoo), smoking, drinking too much alcohol, stress, a throat infection, hormonal changes (especially during puberty or menopause), certain medications or in association with other immune disorders.

5. There is no cure for psoriasis, but it can be treated.

Creams and ointments applied to the skin can help clear the skin as can ultraviolet light, tablets and injections. The choice of treatment will depend on the individual - there's usually a process of trial and error to find the one that works best. Lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking and losing weight if indicated can make treatment more successful.

http://www.webmd.boots.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/5-psoriasis-facts