Psoriasis: The Integumentary System

The Integumentary system is defined as “an organ system consisting in the skin, hair, nails, and exocrine glands” (Integumentary System, 1999). This systems main purpose is to protect the body from the environment around it. The skin covers and protects tissues, nerves, veins, and muscles of the body. The hair and nails give extra strength in reinforcing the skin while keeping the body warm and protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. The exocrine glands of the skin include the sudoriferous glands, sebaceous glands, and the ceruminous glands. Each exocrine gland has a different function as well as location in the skin. The following text will explain the effects of melanoma on the integumentary system.

Like we learned in chapter 1 the job of the integumentary system is to cover and protect the body but what happens if your skin develops a disease like eczema? Eczema is a chronic, common, non-infective inflammatory condition characterized by intense pruritus, redness, and scaling (Eczema, p.1). This condition can appear at any age, but it usually occurs during infancy or early childhood (Eczema, p.1). Eczema or any skin disease are the most common group of occupational health problems leading to absence from work (Eczema, p.1). Several factors play a big role in eczema, both internally and externally, depending on your genetic makeup you may be prone to getting eczema in as early as a few months after you were born or by allergens as a young

Psoriasis is a life long chronic skin condition that starts under the skin and can range from a very mild case to a very severe case. Psoriasis is one of the most perplexing and relentless skin conditions. There are many symptoms of psoriasis. Itchy, scaly skin on the scalp, knees, elbows and upper body are some of the symptoms or psoriasis. Psoriasis on the fingernails and toenails can make the nails become thick, pitted, and discolored. The nails could possibly separate from the underlying nail bed. Psoriasis is caused when the gene that contains your immune system gets mixed up. The gene is supposed to protect the body from invaders; however, it causes inflammation in the skin and causes the skin cells to go into overdrive. The gene determining

One disease that affects the Integumentary system is called Vitiligo, which causes the skin to lose its color in blotches. It may also spread to the through the mouth, hair, and eyes. It may affect everyone, but mostly ones who

Living with any form of disease or chronic health condition is difficult enough to cope with when the Doctor visits seem endless and there is no hope in sight. However, to live with a disease that affects the outward appearance can sometimes be even more difficult. Adapting to having all eyes on you can be a milestone when facing the public, especially when you may appear to be “abnormal” in today’s societies eyes. The inflammation of the skin and appearance of scaly looking pink patches all over the body is enough to catch anyone’s eye, but it is a condition known as Psoriasis that affects many individuals.

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.

Diseases of the integumentary system include any disorder involving the skin, hair or nails. Common conditions such as acne and warts, chronic conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, and more serious diseases like skin cancer, for example, leukemia. All of these diseases are just a few that exist in the integumentary system.

Psoriatic Arthirits affects an estimated thirty percent of individuals who suffer from psoriasis. Psoriasis is a autoimmune disorder that affects the cycle of the skin, causing inflammation and red lesions to form on the skin. Psoriatic arthritis causes joint and muscle pains, as well as swelling and damage of the joints and muscle, and typically causes tender spots where tendons and ligaments meet the bone. About fifty persont of patients diagoned with psoriasis or Psoriatic arthritic has a family background with the auto-immune disorder, suggesting it is a hereditary disease.

The integumentary system has five very common diseases. They include, Alopecia Areata, Psoriasis, Warts, Dermatitis or Eczema, and Athlete’s Foot. Only two out of the five are contagious, but all are or can become severe if not treated immediately or properly.

Psoriasis is defined as a chronic, disfiguring, inflammatory and proliferative skin condition in which both genetic and environmental factors play an important role. The most characteristic lesions consists of red, scaly, sharply demarcated, indurated plaques, present mainly over extensor surfaces and scalp[1].

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.

The integumentary system can be broken down into three main categories the Epidermis, Dermis, and Subcutaneous layer each of which contain certain specialized skin derivatives including hair, nails, and several kinds of glands.

PICO Research Question: In patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, is brodalumab more effective than ustekinumab, one of the standards of care, in relieving the symptoms of psoriasis?

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.

Brian is a 27-year-old male who suffers from plaque psoriasis (L40.0). His symptoms include red, itchy, flaking plaques located on his scalp, genitalia and legs with a BSA of 11%. Brain has tried and failed various treatments including triamcinolone and fluocinolone, both provided him with little to no relief. Brian is not a candidate for said biologics, because they can raise the risk of possibly fatal infections, Lymphoma, and other malignancies. I believe those risks of infection, malignancies are too high for Brian, in addition to both Humira, and Enbrel suppresses the immune system. Systemic medications are also too much of a risk for Brian because they have adverse side effects, which can also be extremely fatal and he is still of