Featured: Psoriasis Awareness Month

August plays host to a multitude of events designed to raise awareness of certain health issues. One of these events is Psoriasis Awareness Month, a month dedicated to showing the world exactly what psoriasis is. Throughout the month, people work hard to raise awareness about psoriasis; what it is, how we can help and ways for people with psoriasis to cope with it in everyday life.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease; a disease that uses the body’s own immune system against it. Antibodies are key to autoimmune diseases. Think of an antibody as a crime-fighter – it seeks out the germs and foreign cells in your body and eradicates them so that you don’t get ill. An autoimmune disease such as psoriasis causes the immune system to act abnormally, generating antibodies that, instead of fighting off illness, attack the body itself and cause health complications.

There are five different types of psoriasis; Guttate, Pustular, Inverse, Plaque and Erythrodermic. Of these, the most common is Plaque. Plaque psoriasis presents itself as large patches of raised, red skin covered in silvery flakes of skin. These can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the scalp, knees and elbows.

The cause of psoriasis is still largely unknown, but it is believed to be genetic. Psoriasis is not contagious, however and cannot be passed by coming into contact with a psoriasis sufferer.

Effect on Everyday Life

Although not a terminal disease, living with psoriasis can be difficult for some, especially when it comes to the social implications. Although it is estimated that over 7.5 million Americans alone are living with the disease, many people still believe that psoriasis is infectious. This has created a stigma that many psoriasis sufferers have to deal with on a daily basis.

For some, psoriasis renders them unable to work or function as normal, especially those with psoriasis that affects the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. For the most part, however, psoriasis only affects the sufferer’s lifestyle slightly. People with mild to moderate psoriasis are usually able to live relatively normal lives, working and maintaining relationships with family and friends as anyone else would.

Further Health Complications

Psoriasis itself can be very easy to manage, but comes with a list of health complications that can occur. The first and most well-known of these is psoriatic arthritis. About 30 percent of people with psoriasis will be affected by psoriatic arthritis in their lifetimes. As with many forms of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis causes stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints. The distal joints (the joints in your fingers and toes closest to the nail) are usually the ones affected by psoriatic arthritis, but other joints in the body can also be affected.

Psoriasis is also said to increase the risk of many other illnesses and diseases. Amongst the links are cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks. Doctors believe that those with psoriasis have a 58 percent chance of having a major cardiac episode in their lifetime.

Depression is also linked to cases of psoriasis, although this is thought to be due to the issues with self-esteem and social implications that psoriasis carries.

Cures and Treatments

Psoriasis is a chronic disease. This means that there is currently no cure and people suffering from psoriasis will have the disease for life. Despite this, there are several treatments available that can make living with psoriasis easier. These range from external (topical) creams and lotions to medications that can help.

Although there is not yet a cure, the National Psoriasis Foundation – a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness and helping with the quality of life of psoriasis sufferers - stays hopeful. More and more is being understood about psoriasis and the more understanding that scientists and researchers have on psoriasis, the easier it will be for them to develop a cure.

All facts and figures were found on the National Psoriasis Foundation website.

Special thanks to Answering.Alexandria and Fandango for editing!