Psoriasis
Anatomy & Physiology Assignment 1
Ms. Renuka Fernando
By: Lakni Jayasinghe
Table of Contents
What is Psoriasis? 3
Different types of Psoriasis 4
Symptoms of Psoriasis 6
How is Psoriasis diagnosed? 7
How can Psoriasis be treated? 8
Can Psoriasis be spread? 9
Things that can cause Psoriasis symptoms to flare 10
Medical Treatments: Topical Agents 11
Medical Treatments: Systematic Agents: (Drugs taken within the body) 12
Medical Treatments: Phototherapy (light therapy) 13
Facts about Psoriasis 14
References 15
What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a long-term skin problem that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Normally, skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks. New skin cells grow to replace the outer layers of the skin as they shed. But in psoriasis, new skin cells move rapidly to the surface of the skin in days rather than weeks. They build up and form thick patches called plaques. The patches range in size from small to large. They most often appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back. Psoriasis is most common in adults. But children and teens can get it too. Psoriasis typically looks like red or pink areas of thickened, raised, and dry skin. It classically affects areas over the elbows, knees, and scalp. Essentially any body area may be involved. It tends to be more common in areas of trauma, repeat rubbing, use, or abrasions. Psoriasis has many different appearances. It may be small flattened bumps, large thick plaques of raised skin, red patches, and mildly dry pink skin to big flakes of dry skin that flake off.
Different types of Psoriasis
Psoriasis Vulgaris Psoriasis vulgaris is the medical name for the most common form of psoriasis ("vulgaris" means common). About 80% of people with psoriasis have this type. It is also called plaque psoriasis because of the
Ms. Renuka Fernando
By: Lakni Jayasinghe
Table of Contents
What is Psoriasis? 3
Different types of Psoriasis 4
Symptoms of Psoriasis 6
How is Psoriasis diagnosed? 7
How can Psoriasis be treated? 8
Can Psoriasis be spread? 9
Things that can cause Psoriasis symptoms to flare 10
Medical Treatments: Topical Agents 11
Medical Treatments: Systematic Agents: (Drugs taken within the body) 12
Medical Treatments: Phototherapy (light therapy) 13
Facts about Psoriasis 14
References 15
What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a long-term skin problem that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Normally, skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks. New skin cells grow to replace the outer layers of the skin as they shed. But in psoriasis, new skin cells move rapidly to the surface of the skin in days rather than weeks. They build up and form thick patches called plaques. The patches range in size from small to large. They most often appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back. Psoriasis is most common in adults. But children and teens can get it too. Psoriasis typically looks like red or pink areas of thickened, raised, and dry skin. It classically affects areas over the elbows, knees, and scalp. Essentially any body area may be involved. It tends to be more common in areas of trauma, repeat rubbing, use, or abrasions. Psoriasis has many different appearances. It may be small flattened bumps, large thick plaques of raised skin, red patches, and mildly dry pink skin to big flakes of dry skin that flake off.
Different types of Psoriasis
Psoriasis Vulgaris Psoriasis vulgaris is the medical name for the most common form of psoriasis ("vulgaris" means common). About 80% of people with psoriasis have this type. It is also called plaque psoriasis because of the
References: https://www.psoriasis.org/ http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/psoriasis http://www.ifpa-pso.org/web/page.aspx?refid=47 http://www.medicinenet.com/psoriasis_pictures_slideshow/article.htm https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/science-of-psoriasis http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_cancer_pictures_slideshow/article.htm