Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease for which there is no definitive cure, but which can be controlled with the right and effective treatment methods. This disease can reduce the quality of a person's social life and cause problems in their psychological health. Psoriasis, which can be passed on genetically, usually through family history, should be diagnosed as early as possible by a physician and the most appropriate and effective treatment process should be started for the patient in order to prevent progression and cause more serious health problems.

Psoriasis, medically known as psoriasis, is a skin disease. It causes skin cells to multiply faster than normal, forming red lesions on the skin that flake off. It is most common on the knees and elbows, back, scalp and hands, but can occur anywhere on the body. It is a chronic and recurrent disease for which there is no definitive cure. It is often seen in early adulthood but can occur at any age.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is not a contagious disease, although in some cases it can be genetically transmitted to family members. In severe cases, the disease can cover a large part of the body. These patches can heal over time and are likely to reoccur later.

In a person with psoriasis, the T lymphocyte cells of the immune system are activated and the cells accumulate in the skin and multiply, forming the white-gray plaques on the skin that are characteristic of psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's normal tissues. Psoriasis can occur at any age and lasts a lifetime. It affects not only the skin but the whole life of the patient. "Erythrodermic" and "Pustular" psoriasis, which are among the types of the disease, reduce the quality of life of patients and can also be life-threatening. By controlling the symptoms of psoriasis with appropriate methods, long-term improvement can be achieved. Psoriasis, a disease that is common in the society and is seen with flare-ups, has a very mild course in 75% of patients.

What Causes Psoriasis?

The underlying cause of psoriasis has not been definitively identified. Studies suggest that genetic causes and factors related to the immune system or a combination of more than one factor may have an effect on the course of the disease.

In psoriasis, which occurs under the control of the immune system, skin cells are produced in the deep layers of the skin, slowly rise to the surface and after a certain period of time they must complete their life cycle and be shed. Cells that have completed their life cycle cannot be shed and begin to accumulate on top of each other. Such lesions can occur on many of the patient's limbs, particularly in the joints, but also on the skin of the face. It is thought that some environmental and genetic factors may trigger the development of these cells. In 1/3 of cases, the onset of the disease is seen in childhood. Having a family history is an important risk factor in psoriasis, which is generally seen to be genetically inherited. The presence of this disease in a close family member plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of psoriasis in the person with suspected psoriasis. However, it can sometimes skip generations. For example, a child suspected of having psoriasis does not have any transmission from his/her parents, but the disease can be passed from grandfather to grandson.

What are the Symptoms of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a long-lasting disease and plaques and dandruff formation on the skin are observed in most patients. Spontaneous recovery is rare, but some patients may experience exacerbation and remission. To list the symptoms clearly:

• In particular, psoriasis-colored crusts are seen to form on the vivid red rashes on the skin and itching is also present. These crusts may crack and bleed. In more severe cases, they can grow to cover very large areas of the skin.
• If the disease is left untreated, the rashes may increase and thicken, making movement difficult.
• The disease not only affects the skin, but is also known to cause damage, redness, swelling and pain in the joints (psoriatic arthritis), affect the cardiovascular system and cause diabetes or obesity, although this is rare.
• If the disease is severe and affects the scalp, it can cause hair loss.
• This disease can also affect the nails; pits in the nail, thickening of the nail, discoloration of the nail, sometimes swelling and redness around the nail.
• Some symptoms include difficulty maintaining body temperature, chills and shivering.

What is Psoriasis Treatment?

Since psoriasis is a chronic disease, there is no permanent treatment. However, there are highly effective treatment methods to control the condition during periods of relapse. When these methods are applied, inflammation in the lesions can be reduced and the rate of reproduction and development of skin cells can be controlled. If the lesions have spread to more than 10% of the skin, ultraviolet light (phototherapy) is applied to the skin to slow the growth of skin cells and a systematic treatment is applied.

• Psoriasis on the hands or face can lead to social isolation and psychological problems. Early diagnosis allows treatment to be started as early as possible.
• The aim of treatment is to avoid factors that aggravate the lesions (not irritating, scratching, etc.), to provide long-term well-being while trying to heal as soon as possible and to prevent side effects.
• The prevalence of the disease, the age of the patient, the patient's compliance with the treatment, and the medications previously used are important in the treatment process. In a limited area, cream medications and moisturizers are used. With treatment, skin symptoms may disappear completely without leaving a trace. With appropriate treatment, periods of almost symptom-free well-being can be experienced.
• Psoriasis does not go away on its own, and in the absence of effective and correct treatment, it can continue to have negative effects that are reflected in people's lives.
• Stress, alcohol, viral or bacterial infections can cause flare-ups. Tobacco use is also among the factors that can exacerbate the disease and is not recommended. In chronic diseases such as psoriasis, it is important to maintain a healthy diet throughout life.
• The drug methotrexate, which is only used in severe cases because it can cause bone marrow, liver and lung problems, is another effective method in the treatment process. The individual is closely monitored by a doctor and may require laboratory tests, chest x-rays and liver biopsies.