Psoriasis is a chronic condition that causes skin cells to grow rapidly, resulting in thick patches of skin. Normal skin cells grow gradually and flake off approximately every 4 weeks, and are replaced by new skin cells. With psoriasis, new skin cells move to the skins surface in days rather than weeks forming thick patches called plaques.

Patches appear most frequently on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back. Psoriasis is more common in adults, but children are susceptible also.

What Is The Cause Of Psoriasis?

The exact cause of psoriasis is not known, however it is believed that the condition is inherited, as about one-third of psoriasis sufferers have family members that have psoriasis. This condition is not contagious and cannot be spread by touch from person to person.

Doctors believe that the immune system is a factor in the development of psoriasis, due to increased numbers of white blood cells between the abnormal layers of skin and that psoriasis responds positively to drugs that suppress the immune system.

Factors Which Affect Psoriasis:

* Climate:
Cold, dry weather causes symptoms to become worse. Hot weather, sunlight, and humidity may improve symptoms.

* Skin injury: can cause psoriasis patches to form anywhere on the body, including the site of the injury. This also includes injuries to your nails or nearby skin while trimming your nails.

* Stress and anxiety: Stress can cause psoriasis to appear suddenly (flare) or can make symptoms worse.

* Infection: such as strep throat can cause psoriasis to appear suddenly as (guttate psoriasis), especially in children.

* Certain medicines: such as NSAIDs, beta-blockers, and lithium, have been found to make psoriasis symptoms worse.

There are several types of psoriasis.

The most common is called plaque psoriasis.

Red, scaly, cracked skin on the palms of the hands and/or feet with tiny pustules is called pustular psoriasis.

Symptoms for each type of psoriasis may vary in severity, however in general, the major symptoms of psoriasis include:

* Bright red areas of raised patches (plaques) on the skin, often covered with loose, silvery scales.

*Plaques can occur anywhere, but commonly they occur on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back.

* Tiny areas of bleeding when skin scales are picked or scraped off (Auspitz's sign).

* Mild scaling to thick, crusted plaques on the scalp.

* Itching, especially during sudden flare-ups or when the psoriasis patches are in body folds, such as under the breasts or buttocks.

* Nail disorders. Nail disorders are common, especially in severe psoriasis. Nail symptoms include:
o Tiny pits in the nails (not found with fungal nail infections).
o Yellowish discoloration of the toenails and sometimes the fingernails.
o Separation of the end of the nail from the nail bed.
o Less often, a buildup of skin debris under the nails.

Other symptoms of psoriasis may include:

* Similar plaques in the same area on both sides of the body (for example, both knees or both elbows).
* Flare-ups of many raindrop-shaped patches called guttate psoriasis. This condition often follows a strep infection and is the second most common type of psoriasis.

* Joint swelling, tenderness, and pain (psoriatic arthritis). Approximately 42% of people with psoriasis actually have psoriatic arthritis. This is a condition that affects both the skin and the joints. If you ever experience joint pain, swelling, and morning stiffness in addition to your psoriasis symptoms, you may actually have psoriatic arthritis. Untreated, psoriatic arthritis may result in permanent joint damage

Koebner's phenomenon can occur when a person with psoriasis has an injury such as a cut, burn, or excess sun exposure to an area of the skin that is not affected by psoriasis. Psoriasis patches then appear on the injured skin or any other part of the skin from several days to about 2 weeks after the injury. Because this response is common, it is important for people who have psoriasis to avoid irritating or injuring their skin.

Topical Treatments:

* Salicylic acid ointment smoothes the skin by promoting the shedding of psoriatic scales.

*Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and irritation.

* A topical ointment containing calcipotriene, related to vitamin D, has proven to be effective for treating psoriasis, especially when combined with a topical corticosteroid cream.

*Capsaicin ointment blocks chemicals in the skin that cause inflammation; painful if used on open wounds

* Coal-tar ointments and shampoos can alleviate symptoms.

* Prescription retinoids (vitamin A-related) gels don't work as quickly as steroids but tend to have fewer side effects.

*Topical Vitamin A Creams women of childbearing age can safely take birth control with this medication.

Light Therapy:

One of the most effective treatments is PUVA (the drug psoralen combined with ultraviolet A, or UVA, light). Caution must be used with this product as PUVA has been shown to contribute to an increased risk of skin cancer.

Some doctors may prescribe ultraviolet B light (UVB) treatment using a light box alone or with other therapies such as coal tar. A relatively new type of light treatment, called narrow-band UVB therapy, may be less carcinogenic than PUVA but just as effective.

Oral Medications

Methotrexate, an anticancer drug, which can produce dramatic clearing of the psoriasis lesions. However, it can cause side effects, so the doctor should perform regular blood tests. Other medications of this type include cyclosporine and thioguanine.

Oral retinoids, compounds with vitamin A-like properties, can be helpful to people with severe psoriasis.

Tegison inhibits rapid cell growth.

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots.

• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) stops breakdown of substances that contribute to psoriasis, protects the liver.
• Yellowdock (Rumex crispus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and burdock (Arctium lappa) help clearthe bloodstream of toxins.
  
• Sarsaparilla (Smilax sarsaparilla) can be effective in psoriasis.
• Coleus forskohlii (tincture, 1 ml three times a day) has been historically used for psoriasis support.
  

Mix equal parts of the above herbs and use 1 cup tea three times per day or 30 to 60 drops tincture three times per day. This is especially effective if sipped. Take 5 to 15 minutes before meals to stimulate digestion