Psoriasis: As Chronic Disease - Research Paper Example

Psoriasis: As Chronic Disease Psoriasis: As Chronic Disease Psoriasis is turning out to be a major problem in the US society because it is a lifelong condition and negatively affects the quality of life. Although psoriasis is not a contagious disease, it can increase the risk of stroke in a person. The severity of the disease can be varied from person to person and it may range from minor localized patches to damage of complete skin. The horrific trouble of this disease is that its psychological effects are more severe than its physical effects. As this disease can drastically impact the victim’s physical appearance, psoriasis patients are most likely to undergo intense psychological stress. Psoriasis may develop in any part of the body regardless of gender differences and the chronic nature of this disease can lead to many life-threatening complications in future. Introduction Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes damages to the skin. Currently, there are no medications available to cure psoriasis, and hence it is a lifelong condition. However, it is possible to control the symptoms of psoriasis through some treatments. This paper will give a brief description of the disease and discuss current statistics of this lifelong medical condition. In addition, this paper will explain how various body systems are affected by psoriasis and identify potential treatments/medications currently available. What is Psoriasis? To define, “psoriasis is the prototype of a group of dermatoses which characteristically exhibit regular epidermal hyperplasia” (Nucci & Oliva, 2009, p.21). An individual is affected by this lifelong condition when his immune system falsely recognizes a normal skin cell as a pathogen and generates signals that result in the overproduction of new cells. According to National Psoriasis Foundation, there are mainly five types of psoriases including plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is the most common and common type of psoriasis and it represents nearly 80% to 90% of all types of psoriasis. This type of psoriasis is appeared as red and white hues of plaques and the skin rapidly accumulates at the affected site under plaque psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis is generally appeared in light pink or red color and it can be developed as a result of issues like bout of strep throat, skin injury, drug intake, and upper respiratory tract infection. In case of pustular psoriasis, the affected area turns red and pus-filled blisters develop. Fever, weight loss, nausea, and joint pain can be the major symptoms of this form of psoriasis. In contrast to other forms of psoriasis, inverse psoriasis is characterized with smooth areas of redness and swelling and these patches commonly appear under the breasts and in the armpits. Finally, erythrodermic psoriasis is the least common type of psoriasis but it can have dreadful complications. In this case, the affected area turns bright red and there will be large areas of swollen and peeling skin. In addition, the affected area will itch severely. It is observed that severe cases of psoriasis can affect the victim’s quality of life to an extent similar to the consequences of other dreadful chronic diseases like depression, blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. On the basis of the location of the psoriasis development, patients are prone to severe physical discomfort and some disabilities. Intense itching and pain may trouble the basic body functions like walking and sleep. Plaques on hands and feet would compel victims to stay away from certain jobs, some sports, and caring for family members. Individuals with psoriasis will have a declined self-image and a fear of public rejection; as a result, they would try to abstain from social activities and live isolated. Evidently, this psychological distress may end up in severe depression. The severity of psoriasis in an individual is estimated based on several factors including the percent of the area affected, degree of disease activity, response to previous treatments, and the consequences of the disease. Genetic factors can play a great role in developing this chronic disease; there is little knowledge about how different genes work together to develop psoriasis. Current Statistics According to a report of World Psoriasis Day consortium, nearly 25 million people worldwide (2-3% of the global population) have been affected by psoriases whereas US National Psoriasis Foundation reports that 2.2% of the American population (approximately 7.5 million Americans) has psoriasis today. As of current data, psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States. According to epidemiological data, the prevalence of psoriasis among African Americans is 1.3 percent whereas it is 2.5 percent in case of Caucasians. It is really worrying to see that between 10 to 30 percent people with psoriasis are vulnerable to developing psoriatic arthritis. Although this disease can appear at stage, typical age of onset of psoriasis is between age of 15 and 25. Similarly, psoriatic arthritis is likely to develop between the ages of 30 and 50. According to National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis affecting less than 3% of the body is mild, 3-10% is moderate, and more than 10% is severe. About one-quarter of psoriasis victims have developed moderate to severe psoriasis (National Psoriasis Foundation). In a survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation on 426 victims in 2008, 71 percent participants opined that the disease had affected their everyday life in some or other way (Healthy skin). Statistical figures say that one of every three people with psoriasis is reported to have relative with this disease. According to the findings of National Psoriasis Foundation, if one of the parents has psoriasis, then his/her child’s chance of developing this disease in future is 10 percent. If both parents are victims of psoriasis, then the child has nearly 50% risk of developing this chronic medical condition. In the United States, the direct and indirect health costs associated with psoriasis are estimated at $11.25 billion, with work loss constituting 40 percent of the total cost. It was identified that nearly 60 percent of psoriasis sufferers missed an average of 26 working days annually as a result of their disease (National Psoriasis Foundation). Although the incidence rate of psoriasis is almost same in both males and females, this disease is more common in girls than boys during childhood. Impacts of the Disease As mentioned already, some forms of psoriasis like erythrodermic psoriasis can have dreadful impacts on body systems. Commonly, psoriasis develops in elbows, knees, and scalp and torso. However, this disease may appear anywhere in the body, including areas like face, palms, feet, and genital area. Undoubtedly, the long term nature of psoriasis is the most dreadful feature of this disease. Nearly 50 percent of people with psoriasis face the problem of scalp psoriasis. If the victim’s scalp is affected, plaques may extend beyond his hairline to forehead or neck. In some individuals with psoriasis, the disease condition may cause some nail changes such as pitting, thickening, color and shape alteration, and separation of the nail from the nail bed (CNN health). Pustular psoriasis results in the production of fluid-filled plaques and severe scaling whereas erythrodermic psoriasis leads to health problems like severe inflammation and shedding of the skin. Some recent studies indicate that the development of psoriasis may further damage the functioning of the immune system. Psoriasis can have adverse impacts on pregnancy. According to Jennifer M Landau et al (as cited in Paknikar, 2011), major effects of psoriasis on pregnancy include low birth weight of the baby, premature birth, and abortion. Psoriasis affected pregnant women are prone to depression, smoking, and alcoholism and the damaging effects of these situations have been well documented. “Not only do these conditions affect pregnancy, the drugs used to treat these conditions could also have harmful effects on the fetus” (Paknikar, 2011). As stated already, this disease ruins an individual’s physical appearance and this situation in turn may cause him to develop many psychological issues. Ultimately, intense psychological stress and social isolation are likely to lead to health issues like weight loss, which would weaken the victim’s physical health. Medications/treatments Although there is no complete cure for psoriasis, different treatment options have been developed to control this disease and thereby to reduce the intensity of effects. As Mayo Clinic staff reports, mainly, topical agents, phototherapy, and systemic agents are used to treat psoriasis. Topical agents are used for the treatment of mild psoriasis, phototherapy for moderate psoriasis, and systemic agents for severe psoriasis. Topical agents such as moisturizers and petroleum jelly could be helpful to soothe the affected skin area and to avoid the dryness which leads to the development of skin on psoriatic plaques. In addition, applying medicated creams and ointments on the psoriatic plaques can reduce inflammation and to improve skin turn over. Traditionally, phototherapy in the form of sunlight (having wavelengths of 311-313nm) is used for the treatment of psoriasis. However, it is important to regulate the exposure time while using the phototherapy technique because over exposure would end up in the burning of the skin. Some forms of psoriasis will be resistant to tropical treatment and phototherapy and hence it is necessary to use internal medications (systemic agents) (Mayo Clinic Staff). Conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that the growing prevalence of psoriasis creates many potential health problems in the United States. Currently, an estimated 7.5 million Americans are the victims of psoriasis and 10-30 percent of them are prone to developing psoriatic arthritis. This chronic disease greatly disrupts the normal life of victims and leads to many severe psychological problems like fear of public rejection and social isolation. Similarly, this disease can have severe impacts on pregnancy including premature birth and abortion. Evidently, psoriasis is a chronic disease for which complete cure is not possible. Techniques like tropical treatment, phototherapy, and systemic treatment are employed to control this long term medical condition. References CNN health. What Psoriasis Does to Your Body. Retrieved from http://inhealth.cnn.com/stepping-up-your-psoriasis-treatment/6-effects-psoriasis-may-have-on-your-body/ Healthy skin. Coping With Psoriasis. Retrieved from http://www.parade.com/health/healthyskin/coping-with-psoriasis.html Mayo Clinic staff. Psoriasis: Treatments and drugs. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psoriasis/DS00193/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs Nucci, M. R & Oliva, E. (2009). Gynecologic Pathology. Elsevier Health Sciences. National Psoriasis Foundation. Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.psoriasis.org/learn_statistics Paknikar, S. (2011). Effect of Psoriasis and Its Treatment on Pregnancy. MD India. Retrieved from http://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/Effect-of-Psoriasis-and-Its-Treatment-on-Pregnancy-93184-1.htm Read More