Psoriasis Vulgaris

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

Then when I was about 13 years old, I developed a kind of psoriasis called drip psoriasis, which may have been caused by a few weeks ago streptococcus. About 90% of the body has a small pink lesion - my husband compares it with a poisonous rubber rash.

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

“Psoriasis is a long-term (chronic) skin problem that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white silvery, or red patches of skin.” (WebMD, 2012) To uneducated individuals, they may look at a person with Psoriasis and think to stay away from them as it might be contagious. This disorder is not contagious, but it does affect a person with Psoriasis to go through social exclusion and discrimination. A mistaken trigger in the immune system is said to be the one of the causes of rapid production of skin cells in the body. Patients with Psoriasis produce new skin cells between 2-6 days. That is a little over four times less than the time they are normally produced, which is 21-28days. “Psoriasis affects approximately 3% of

Don’t judge a book by its cover is one of the greatest known metaphorical phrases in human history. People constantly identify with and attempt to apply the concept in everyday life; yet our society has constructed a paradigm in which the perfection of your skin predetermines your social interactions in life. Likewise it is important to comprehend that it is not only on the side of society’s judgements which determines your interactions, but it is also that of the lowered self-esteem of the individual. To garner apposite knowledge, the task at hand required the interviewing of a person with a skin condition with the aim to internalise and reflect upon the biopsychosocial as well as cultural impacts of the illness. I was lucky enough to have the privilege of interviewing Jane Doe, a 20 year old white female with a history of psoriasis since age five. I was introduced to Jane through a close friend and entering into a professional relationship, she agreed to help me in my endeavour. Drawing on the principles of interviewing I ensured that it was a quiet, confidential and comfortable space1; thus it took place in her home. Jane has had a difficult beginning in life as psoriasis – a common, chronic immune-mediated skin disease – currently has no cure and is characterised by scaly, reddened patches, papules, and plaques, which usually itch.2

Researchers examined 132 psoriasis patients whose psoriasis had completely cleared with anthralin therapy and were followed over 3 years. Fifty-one patients (39%) recalled specific

Psoriasis is a noncommunicable, chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by hyperproliferation of epidermal cells, erythematous patches covered with a distinctive scale and incomplete differentiation of keratinocytes (WHO, Menter 2008, Ashcroft 2000). Depending upon the percent body area affected, psoriasis can be classified as mild (less than 3%), moderate (3-10%) and severe (more than 10%) (Krueger et al 2000,). The worldwide prevalence of psoriasis is around 2% while in developed countries higher prevalence rates about 4.6% have been reported (Parisi et al 2013). The prevalence of the disease in adolescent and children ranges from 0.5% to 2% (Parisi et al, 2013; Tollefson et al., 2010; Fotiadou et. al., 2014). Out 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

“Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin.” (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2012) It tends to affect the elbows, knees or scalp however it can appear anywhere on the body. (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2012)