Psoriasis Research Paper

This essay explores and reflects on the lived experiences of an elderly patient living with the long-term condition (LTC) of psoriasis. A case study is used to illustrate some of the key features of LTCs and the impact they can have on a patient’s physical, psychological and social state. It is also going to be looking at the effect some of the key features can have on a patients support network or family. In addition it will examine the nurses role in the management of LTCs and the health and social policies that may have an impact on the care received by patient with LTCs.

The pathophysiology of psoriasis is characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation, enhanced antigen presentation, T helper 1 cytokine production, T cell expansion, and angiogenesis. (El-Darouti and Abdel Hay, 2010 ).

Background: Plaque psoriasis is a painful autoimmune disease that affects up to 3% of the US population.1 Moderate-to-severe psoriasis can have significant psychological and physiological effects on a person’s health and although psoriasis can be controlled, it cannot be cured, so medications play an important role in reducing related comorbidities and improving patients’ quality of life.2

Psoriasis is a skin condition that is often confused with eczema. While both cause inflammation of the skin and have similar symptoms, they are actually quite different in terms of cause and treatment. At Gateway Dermatology PC in Lincoln, NE, the experts in acne treatments, cosmetic dermatology, and skin treatments explain the differences between the two conditions and how each can be treated.

Psoriasis is a fairly common autoimmune disease in which the body perceives the skin as foreign, and begins to attack it from within. This attack causes skin cells to reproduce rapidly, causing red, scaly patches of skin that will bleed when it becomes dry and cracked. This is a chronic illness that has no long term treatments, which means that managing flare-ups is extremely difficult. Since the majority of the world is unaware of psoriasis, people who suffer from the disease are often regarded as dirty or unclean due to the state of their skin. Many sufferers feel ostracized when doing everyday things such as going to the hair salon, swimming, or trying on clothes because the psoriasis are plainly visible to everyone in the

Although there is not a cure for psoriasis there are treatments for it. The treatments are prescribed based on the sizes of the rashes,where they are on the body,age,and status of health. Steroid creams such as topical corticosteroids are used to suppress the immune system by reducing inflammation and relieves itchiness. Biologic treatments are also used to control the inflammation. Calcineurin inhibitors reduce the plaque buildup and moisturizing creams can help reduce the itching,scaling and dryness of the skin. Phototherapy which is also known as light therapy works on the skin as well. The ultraviolet light penetrates the skin and helps slow down the growth of the skin cells. Sunlight is also one, but having intense exposure of sunlight can damage the skin. Methotrexate as systemic treatment that is taken orally helps decrease

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

There are many complications and comorbidities that can arise from having psoriasis. One of the main complications that arise from having psoriasis is the development of psoriatic arthritis, a condition that affects the person’s joints with pain and inflammation. As the National Foundation for Psoriasis estimates, there are up to 30 percent of those with psoriasis that develop psoriatic arthritis, which can lead to a large risk of developing other conditions like cardiovascular disease, depression, etc. (Comorbidities Associated with Psoriatic Disease. (n.d.)). To the average person, psoriasis may seem like nothing more than a skin condition that can look unsightly. However, psoriasis is so much more than just a skin

There many treatment options to reduce the effect of psoriasis. The treatment of psoriasis divided into two that is topical and systemic (Penzer & Ersser, 2010). The treatments option includes:

It is considered moderate-to-severe if it involves >5% of body area or involves crucial body regions, which include hands, feet, face, and genitals.4, 8 Family history is prevalent in 1/3 of patients with psoriasis.6 Additionally, there are many environmental triggers of psoriasis, including smoking, stress, cold weather, alcohol abuse, and drugs such as beta blockers, lithium, NSAIDs, and tetracyclines.8 Though psoriasis is primarily known as a skin and joint condition, it can also increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, lymphoma, and cardiovascular disease.6 Psoriasis also has implications in a patient’s social and mental

Psoriasis is a potential inherited genetic defect in the immune system. It is an unpredictable skin disorder that is characterized by painful, itchy, patches of redden skin covered in white skin scales. It affects millions of people around the world and there isn’t a cure for it.

This disease is partly due to a genetic and environmental factors(Y. Liu, J. G. Krueger et al 2007). Psoriasis can be categorized as mild, moderate and severe conditions. Mild psoriasis leads to formation of rashes and when it becomes moderate the skin turns into scaly. In severe conditions, the red patches may be present on skin surface and become itchy. This affects a person’s daily life including professional and social life. The normal mechanism of body is that it form new skin cells in every month to replace skin which is sheds or flakes off. But in psoriasis the new skin cells grow rapidly within days rather than weeks. This leads to accumulation of dead skin on the skin surface and resulting in thick patches of red, dry and itchy skin.

Psoriasis is an ongoing skin condition, where the skin develops patches of itchy, red, scaly skin. Chances are, if you develop psoriasis, family members also have/had the condition, as there is a genetic association for psoriasis.

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

Psoriasis also occurs due to dry scalp and it is quite an advanced stage. This is why Psoriasis is usually treated as a scalp diseases rather than any normal scalp issue. If this issue is not handled seriously on time, then you might even face severe kind of consequences. Bumpy, red and scaly