Psoriasis Pathophysiology Psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting millions of people. It affects 2 to 3% of the Caucasian population, usually in individuals between 15 and 30 years old. (Liu, Krueger, & Bowcock, 2007). There are several different forms of the disease. The most common type is chronic plague psoriasis. It presents itself as silvery-scaled patches usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. Outbreaks can be triggered by infection, such as strep throat, drug-use, psychological stress, hormonal changes and skin injury. The exact cause is still unknown; however, research has provided some interesting insights into the pathophysiology of psoriasis. The most evident pathophysiological …show more content…
Although not yet verified, natural killer T cells also seem to play a role in the development of psoriasis. T cells are not the only increased leukocytes in psoriasis patients. Neutrophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells are also increased. Dendritic cells are the other important cell of study for psoriasis. There are three subsets of cutaneous dendritic cells which include: immature dendritic cells (iDC), mature myeloid dendritic cells (mDC), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). All three are increased in patients with psoriasis. These cells “overall could equal or exceed the number of T cells in lesions.” (Jullien, 2006). Langerhans cells are one type of immature dendritic cell. There job is to “engulf protein antigens by pinocytosis, partially digest these proteins into shorter polypeptides, and move these polypeptides to the surface.” (Fox, 2008). Once they are at the surface, they are associated with histocompatibility antigen, which in turn activates the T lymphocytes. As mentioned before, this unnecessary activation of T cells will lead to the hyperproliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. In order for these cells to be activated in a way that causes the inflammatory process associated with psoriasis, they must migrate to the skin. “Recruitment of leukocytes out of the blood stream into the different skin compartments is an active and selective process.” (Jullien, 2006).
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
Until the early 1980s, psoriasis was believed to be a disease primarily of epidermal keratinocyte proliferation and the cutaneous inflammatory infiltrate to be a secondary event. However, subsequent studies presented evidences that innate as well as adaptive immunity are crucial in the initiation and maintenance of psoriatic plaques. Type 1 and type 17 T lymphocytes secrete respectively (IFN-γ), (IL-2), IL-17, IL-22, in addition to TNF-α and IL6 (Gisondi and Girolomoni 2009).
Langerhan’s cells are macrophages that activate immune response. The immune system is activated through the epidermis from the bone marrow. The langerhan’s cells branch out and form a network around the keratinocytes. They are found in abundance in the stratum spinosum, but found in other parts of the epidermis.
Psoriasis is mediated by helper T-cells that produce IL-17, an inflammatory cytokine that plays an important pathological role in psoriasis.2 Research has shown
Psoriatic Arthritis can be incredibly damaging to the body, classified as an auto-immune disorder, the bodys immune system will send incorrect information out, thus attacking healthy tissue.
The most common symptoms of psoriasis include: raised, red, inflamed lesions, silvery scaly plaques, small, red, individual spots, dry skin that may crack and bleed, itching, or burning, and soreness of the skin.
40 patients were reported to have Psoriasis (skin rash) within their peripheral extremities. The skin rash appear to be red with pus, liquid oozing from the rash (looking like a zombie rash). Each patients are also reports that their extremities itch, and sometime even inflamed.
Psoriasis is a inflammatory and hyper proliferative disease of the skin, which is caused by the immune system. The immune system is overactive causing for cells to be produced at a faster rate than normal. Someone with Psoriasis immune system will attack their skin cells causing for damage in the skin. The Immune system produces T-cells which aid in recognizing foreign invaders and attacking them. However, with psoriasis the T-cells mistakenly identify skin cells as invaders and attack them. Furthermore, the attack on the skin cells leads to skin damage causing for the body to produce skin cells at a higher rate. The integumentary which is responsible for the production of skin cells is affected and goes in hyper drive. Normally, it would take approximately, a month to produce new skin cells, however, when someone has Psoriasis skin cell production is at a higher rate. Psoriasis causes for new skin cells to be produced at faster rate causing for skin cells to surface in 3-4 days. The body cannot shed skin cells at that rate which causes for old skin cells to pile up and cause flakey watched know as plaques. Scientist have discovered five different forms of psoriasis.
Within the immune system, the thymus receives immature T cells from the bone marrow and turns them to mature T cells so that they can detect foreign substances. Antigens from epithelial cells are presented to the immature T cells. The T cells that recognize the antigens of the foreign cells continue to be tested and shown native cells from the body. If the T cells bind to the native cell, they are labeled autoimmune and destroyed, but those that
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder, easily identified by its symptoms of white, scaly skin and red lesions, though not so easily cured or understood. In psoriasis, skin cells mature faster than the body can shed them, causing a buildup. Although there are many theories as to what the cause of such a disease might be genetics, stress, or other triggers no one is quite sure why the disease occurs, or what could be a possible way to fully cure it. In this essay we will explore the symptoms, types, and effects of this condition, and also some of the known treatments.
Psoriasis is an extremely well-known disease of the Integumentary system that create a red, dry rash on the elbows, back, stomach, knees, palms, etc. The rash Psoriasis causes covers the infected area with dead skin cells that appear like silver scales. The disease cannot be cured, only treated, meaning that the symptoms can be agonizing to many patients with chronic forms. The scientific journal excerpt “Psoriasis Uncovered,” goes into depth about the causes, symptoms, age onset, and many more details about the disease.
A psoriasis patient’s skin cells usually grow within days, whereas normally, skin cells can take up to a month to grow. Psoriasis makes the skin look thick with patches of red, white, or silver that are symptomatic of the skin cells that are growing abnormally fast. Psoriasis can cause a stinging or burning feeling in addition to itchiness and appears most commonly on knees and elbows, palms of the hand and soles of the feet, the face, and the lower back. Psoriasis is often exacerbated by stress, sunburns, and scratches. Psoriasis is most common in adults.
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
Psoriasis was copied from the Greek word psora, which means “to itch” (Jean, 2011). Psoriasis is a chronic, long lasting autoimmune skin disease that disturbs the speed of the growth cycle in skin cells (Stress-Related Disorder Sourcebook, 2016). Normal, healthy skin cells replace dead skin cells every twenty-eight to thirty days (Langley, 2005). Skin is the largest organ in the body. It protects from the environment, regulates body temperature, helps coordinate immune system regulation, function of touch sensations, waterproof, and prevents toxin substances from entering the body (Langley,2010). Psoriasis effects greater than three percent