Psoriasis: A Case Study

The Integumentary is a vast organ system composed of exocrine glands, hair, nails, and the most commonly known organ, the skin. As a large system, it can be susceptible to many different types of diseases, one of these diseases are called Psoriasis. This affects a large portion of the Integumentary system, the skin. Psoriasis are considered to be a widespread, common and recurring disease that can be chronic at times. Psoriasis are defined by its appearance of light silver in color, flaky, rash on many parts of the Epidermis.

Psoriasis: This is a common, chronic and recurring skin disorder that changes and alters the life cycle of skin cells. It causes cells to accumulate quickly on the skin surface. The extra cells from the skin forms a thick, itchy, silvery scale and a red patch. It can appear at any part of the body such as the knee, scalp, elbow etc. it is treated with drugs applied to the skin, ingested and with ultraviolet radiation. This disease has affected about 1%-5% of the world population and it is more common to the light skinned people. Psoriasis may persist throughout a person’s life as it comes and goes but it is usually reduced during the summer period when the skin is exposed to ultraviolent radiation and flare ups are common during

Psoriasis is a genetic disease due to a misstep occurring in the way that a gene works. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning it has an abnormal response to a body part. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition. Color change associated with the plaques is more obvious where there is little scaling of the skin (Psoriasis: The At Your Fingertips Guide, 2005). There are many different forms of psoriasis; this disease can be found just about anywhere on the body. It is also associated with other health conditions; such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2016). In particular, this research focuses on plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the foot.

Despite differences in symptoms, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Psoriasis are significantly linked, they are both immune-mediated and can be treated by the same drug: dimethyl fumarate. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the Myelin Sheath that covers a nerve cell in the CNS, thus causing scar tissue called Sclerosis.* Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) involves episodes of inflammation called relapses which include: numbness and tingling, fatigue and vision loss (also known as optic neuritis).*Like MS, the exact cause of Psoriasis is unknown besides the fact that the cause of symptoms, such as inflamed red patches of skin which may crack or bleed are due to the immune

This condition generally affects 2 percent of the general population. A psoriasis rash is made up of pink plaques. Anyone can get it and at any age. The skin cells build up to create patches that itch, hurt and even bleed. The treatment for this is mainly to relieve the symptoms. Some dermatologists use steroids, some others use injections known as biologics to suppress the flare ups. If it does not respond to the therapies

Psoriasis is a skin disease of the integumentary system that has no cure. This skin disease can leave the outer layer skin red, itchy, with scaly patches. It can also lead to skin infections in severe cases. In the journal “A New Holistic Approach To Treating Psoriasis” by Colleen Mikula tells about psoriasis and the different treatments that are used to treat people with this disease.

It might not be the worst disease out there, but it still is interesting to learn about, and it’s odd how someone’s skin can just be like that. It might not seem like a terrible thing to us who don’t have it, but it is a terrible thing for the people who do. They have to suffer with that disease every day and I read that there is not even a cure for psoriasis yet, although there are ways to get relief from the symptoms, because people who have this may suffer and hurt while others may not. Psoriasis is different for everyone out there, and even though I’m not sure have ever dealt with psoriasis in my personal life with anyone, it still looks like something that I’m sure no one wants to ever get, because it doesn’t seem fair to the person who got it. There are medicines and creams that show up on the TV to help with psoriasis, but they don’t ever fully cure

Nail psoriasis is not treatable but there are medications that can be used to relieve pain from the patient. Most commonly used medication is topical medication that is applied on the cuticle. Nail psoriasis affects the nails when they are growing, which makes it a hard condition to treat. Topical treatments used do not get to the nail bed which adds to the reasons as to why it is a hard condition to cure. Moreover, fungus infections tend to develop in the nail bed when a patient has nail psoriasis. (García et al, 2007). The treatments available may cure the fungus infection but not the nail

There are many types of diseases of the Integumentary System, some worse than others, but they still all affect the Integumentary System in some way. Psoriasis is a skin disease marked by red, itchy, scaly patches, and it is an immune-mediated, inflammatory condition which affects nearly 3 percent of the worlds population, is not contagious, and it affects both males and females, no matter what age or ethnicity they are. It could be painful, their lesions could crack open and bleed, and itching could also occur, but sometimes it might not even be painful at

As previously stated, Psoriasis is caused by a mistaken trigger in the Immune system. “Normally, T cells help protect the body against infection and disease.” (NIAMS, 2013) When the disorder triggers the immune system, it causes the T cells to activate and trigger other immune responses. This will develop the redness and scaling of the

C- Drugs There are many drugs reported to be responsible for the onset or exacerbation of psoriasis. For example, beta adrenergic blockers may induce epidermal hyper-proliferation associated with a decrease of intra-epidermal cyclic AMP, lithium may elevate pro-inflammatory cytokines, so it stimulates cutaneous leucocyte recruitment and chloroquine blocks epidermal transglutaminase, an enzyme that is involved in the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Also rapid tapering of corticosteroids can induce pustular, extensive plaque or erythrodermic psoriasis (Tsankov et

Psoriasis is an irritating skin disease that primarily affects the scalp and extensor surfaces of the knees and elbows, though it can develop anywhere in the body. It is characterized by patches of abnormal skin that are typically red, itchy and scaly. It occurs when the reproduction of basal cells which are set at the bottom of several layers of cell and from which the skin growth increases dramatically. The upper layer of skin cannot shed the dead cells at the same rate and this scaly build-up occurs. The increase in basal cell production is believed to be caused by an imbalance of 2 natural chemical complexes called cAMP, which inhibits cell growth and cGMP which encourages cell growth. Proteins and toxins from bacterial and yeast metabolism

Males and females are equally affected by psoriasis vulgaris. Many studies indicate that age of onset is younger in females. Thus, one German study demonstrated an age of onset of 22 years in males and 16 years in females in early onset disease (Henseler and Christophers, 1985). However, results of studies are highly dependent on sampling techniques used and are variable in their results. There is no an approved evidence that the disease is phenotypically different between the sexes.

Psoriasis is a well known disease that affects the integumentary system. This disease is a common skin condition is visible on the surface of the skin. Psoriasis is a persistent, long lasting disease that has no cure. This disease can affect anyone at any ages.

Red, raised, dry, inflamed, scaly areas on the body and the pitting of the nails describe the common appearance of the pathological disease of psoriasis. Doctors often find it difficult to determine psoriasis because it is very similar to other skin disorders. There are several ways to confirm its medical diagnosis, dermatologist may analyze your skin, nails, and scalp (Langley, 2010). A dermatologist is a specialist trained in skin diseases. If not determined by the naked eye, further investigations are needed to determine the type of psoriasis. It can be tested by a biopsy of the skin which is performed by examining the skin under a microscope, x-rays could determine joint swelling or joint deformity, a blood test to determine arthritis, and medical history.