What is Psoriasis ?

Psoriasis is a condition which develop red patches of various sizes on the skin that are covered with dry, silvery scales.
Psoriasis is called as chhal rog in Hindi.
In psoriasis the skin becomes inflamed and red eruptions appear on the surface of the skin that begin to itch excessively. These areas form thickened areas (plaques) that are covered with silvery scales over the reddened lesions. The skin at the joints may crack sometimes.
Psoriasis most often occurs on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, palms, and soles of the feet. The disease may also affect the fingernails and toenails.
About 15% of people with psoriasis have joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriasis is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the percentage of body surface involved and the impact on the patient's quality of life.
In some cases, psoriasis is so mild that is ignored by patient in early stage.
When it get aggravated entire body get covered by psoriatic patches which give pain and excess itching,some time joint also get pain in early morning.
Psoriasis affects between 2% percent of general population. In US alone there are about 5.5 to 6 million people suffering from psoriasis.
Both males and females get psoriasis in equal numbers. It can strike at any age, but most often in adults between 15 and 35 years.

Pathology of Psoriasis :

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease characterized by scaling and inflammation.
Our skin is mainly made up of two layers : epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (inner layer). The cells of epidermis are borne in dermis and then they move up. At a regular interval of 28-30 days, the cells of epidermis are replaced by new cells formed in dermis.
In psoriasis, this process of cell production in dermis is sped up. New cells are formed and moved upward to the skin surface faster than they can be incorporated into skin. The excess cells accumulate and are scaled off in the form of flakes.
Psoriatic plaque has other features also, including inflammatory cells and dilated small blood vessels that contribute to both the appearance and the symptoms of a psoriatic lesion.

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