Psoriasis
Research
As
a result of the extent of support from the psoriasis and
psoriatic arthritis community and ongoing psoriasis
research, there is now more information about these
conditions than in previous years. It is being suggested
that genetic factors and the immune system have an effect
in the onset, progression or worsening of psoriasis and
psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis has been known to be
non-contagious, meaning you cannot contract the disease
from a person affected by psoriasis. However, it is also
a lifelong disease and affects over 7 million people in
the United States alone.
Different Types
of Psoriasis
Currently,
psoriasis research indicates that there are five types of
psoriasis, namely plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and
erythrodermic. The most typical form of psoriasis is
plaque psoriasis, which manifests as raised, reddish
patches or lesions under a silvery white accumulation of
dead skin cells, or scales. Guttate psoriasis develops as
tiny red spots on the skin, inverse psoriasis typically
develops in skin folds, pustular psoriasis appears as
white blisters with red skin around them and
erythrodermic psoriasis is characterized by severe
redness over large portions of the skin. Psoriasis is not
limited to just one or few parts of the body, however,
there looks to be specific skin sites and these are
categorized as scalp psoriasis, genital psoriasis, facial
psoriasis, psoriasis on the hands and feet, and nail
psoriasis.
Today,
the general aim of psoriasis research involves raising
awareness about psoriasis, encouraging healthcare
decision makers to provide patients with improved access
to treatments, provide significant information to
interested parties, and provide support for patients and
their family and friends.
Psoriasis Drug
Treatment
So
far, psoriasis research is continuing process. Currently,
it is focuses on drugs that involve the immune system.
Many scientists lean towards the implication that
psoriasis develops when the immune system triggers the
generation of extra cells in an over reaction. Genes
linked to the cause of psoriasis have also been
recognized. Individuals with a history of psoriasis are
known to have a predisposition to the disease as certain
genes linked to psoriasis have displayed the reaction of
the immune system.
Result of
Psoriasis Studies
There
are several interesting results that have been generated
by psoriasis research, such as the finding that certain
components in cotton plants can help treat psoriasis.
Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are
treatments that can be used to control symptoms, keep the
skin disease at bay and improve the patient’s overall
quality of life.
Experts
from the National Psoriasis Foundation suggests that
therapies that focus on the vascular system might one day
offer a better solution to individuals suffering from the
disease. It has been implicated that factors of the
vascular system, or blood vessel system in the skin, are
somehow altered in psoriasis. A vital controller of
vascular development generated by skin cells is present
in increased levels in psoriatic skin lesions. If
scientists could further study this case then there might
be a therapeutic blockade for the specific alterations in
the blood vessel network in the future.
New
psoriasis research is generally emphasizing on biologics.
However, other psoriasis research and studies have
already begun involving herbal remedies and other
natural/alternative treatments for psoriasis. There are
currently a variety of herbal remedies available around
the world in the treatment of psoriasis, used alone or in
combination.
Want
to learn more about Psoriasis?
For a vast
and comprehensive medical site visit MedSigns.com or
Healthline.com
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