Thesis On Psoriasis

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).

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 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.

Alkhalifah et al. (2010) observed monozygotic twins because they are likely to have similar criterions and patterns of hair follicle deterioration. They also observed that AA might be inherited due to patients having a family history of this autoimmune disease. Human leukocyte antigens genes (HLA) are affiliated in alopecia areata along with several HLA class I and II alleles (Alkhalifah et al. 2010). The HLA class II antigen is a main contributor to the development of AA. This gene is a big expresser on the hair follicles and it is expressed on immune cells, giving antigen peptides to a specific T cell, CD4+. These findings suggest that CD4+ cells do indeed

Psoriasis is not diagnosed by any blood test. It is done simply by observation. Sometimes, a biopsy may be look at underneath a microscope, but thats about all.

Ranging from small quarter size patches here and there that appear as dry skin from over exposure to cold weather or water without proper hydration, or on the scalp. However, until recently, I have never physically seen a case of Psoriasis covering large surface areas of the body. After, being in lecture with a fellow classmate this Spring 2016 semester, it is clear that this individual suffers from this chronic disease of the skin. There are the large plaques present on this individual as a result of the skin cells that look dry and

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.

Three hypotheses exist for the etiopathogenesis of PSC: PSC as a genetic disease, PSC as an autoimmune disease, and PSC as an inflammatory reaction to bacterial/infectious agents. (4) However, there is no one unifying hypothesis as to the etiopathogeneis of PSC and some overlapping of the hypotheses leading to difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of

PSA is a biomarker that is regularly used clinically for screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer. It was discovered in 1972 while trying to find a substance in seminal fluid that would aid in the research of medical cases. Papsidero and associates measured PSA quantitatively in the blood in 1980, which was stated to be a clinical use as a marker for prostate cancer. PSA exists in small quantities in the serum of normal men, and it is raised higher in the presence of prostate cancer and other prostate ailments [8]. Prostate cancer can also be present in the whole absence of a raised PSA level. PSA expresses androgen dependent and so it is less sensitive in older population. The limitations of PSA as biomarker

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

Although biologics are considered to be some of the promising new psoriasis treatments, they are not compatible with everyone. They may cause severe effects to some individuals. Due to the serious risks, they pose, careful consideration must be taken before using them to battle

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.