What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin disorder (as visible) which affects around 1-3 % of peoples around the world. Though it seems it affected the skin, it actually begins inside our immune system. It comes from blood cells, from white T cells, which mainly works to protect the body from various infection and disease. But in case of psoriasis, they become active and set off other immune responses (inflammation) to the skin which lead to the symptoms of psoriasis.
Symptoms of psoriasis:
Psoriasis can be identified by different symptoms that range from mild to severe. These symptoms include:
- Itchy, scaly patches of skin
- Dry and cracked patches that may bleed
- Thickened or ridged nails
- Stiff and swollen joints due to inflammation
The reason behind psoriasis:
No one knows the exact cause of psoriasis till now. However, psoriasis most commonly found in those people who are adult and have the same skin condition in their family history.
Psoriasis triggers:
There are some common triggers that people with psoriasis should avoid, though the symptoms of psoriasis not present at that time:
Food-related triggers
While there is no definite science for food habits but people should avoid milk, citrus fruits, gluten and foods containing fats. Though there is no scientific evidence according to the NPF (National Psoriasis Foundation), people with psoriasis should avoid these.
Alcohol and Smoking
Alcohol and tobacco both can be the trigger for many people with psoriasis; they may increase your risk of psoriasis and make your symptoms severe. Studies show that psoriasis increase in those who drink 2-3 times per week, especially non-light beer.
Weather
Excess sun, cold or dry weather can worsen symptoms of psoriasis. A small amount of sun can relieve symptoms but excess can worsen the situation. Same in case of cold weather too. Try to spend less time in cold during the coldest months and use a humidifier to avoid the dry condition.
Stress
Stress is a big trigger for psoriasis which may increase your risk. It’s very much important to reduce stress as much as possible, not only for psoriasis risk, but also for other diseases. Yoga and meditation can help you to reduce the stress level.
Some medications
Some medications like beta-blockers (used for high blood pressure) or the pills taken to stop malaria can interfere with the body’s autoimmune response and can cause psoriasis. Always tell your doctor if you have psoriasis before taking any of these medicines.
Although there is no existing cure for psoriasis directly in medical science, but treatment with herbal medications can help a lot, as seen on many cases. But you need to understand your triggers and should avoid them which will help you to minimize the risk of psoriasis.