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Almost anyone, at any age, can develop psoriasis. While it’s not contagious, it turns life upside down. A visit to the hairdresser becomes a nightmare, the swimming pool is just a memory.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic, in most cases incurable skin disease, manifested by yellow and red spots covered with a characteristic silver scales. It is made of exfoliating epidermis that grows faster than in a healthy person. The uneven growth of individual cells causes inflammation around them and the body recognizes them as hostile. This is why psoriasis – also called psoriasis in Latin – is an autoimmune disease.
Psoriasis does not manifest itself in the same way for everyone. Since, as proven in 2005, it has a genetic basis, the degree of its severity largely depends on the type of mutation. There are skin eruptions the size of a grain of sand and those that are larger than an adult’s hand. The disease develops regionally, most often on the elbows, back, scalp, nails and knees, as well as almost the entire body of the patient. It is associated with unpleasant itching, cracking of the epidermis and low extensibility of the skin.
Worldwide, doctors estimate that all varieties of psoriasis may affect 2 to 4 percent of the disease. society, of which 90 percent. patients suffer from a relatively harmless form of psoriasis vulgaris. About 10 percent. Of these, psoriasis also affects the joints, and if left untreated, it can lead to symptoms similar to acute rheumatism. The disease does not occur more frequently because of gender, but it is activated in connection with hormonal changes, most often in the period of puberty and menopause. Also, due to hormonal factors, the disease is alleviated in pregnant women.
Can you catch psoriasis?
Over the centuries, many harmful opinions have arisen around psoriasis, causing people suffering from this disease to struggle with social exclusion and even depression. As the first myth, one should refute the belief that psoriasis was indirectly related to leprosy, which was alive until the XNUMXth century. Psoriasis is a disease that is not contagious, and contact with a person who has spots and inflammation on the skin is not a threat to our health.
If you have psoriasis, you don’t automatically pass it on to your own children. For one parent, the probability of passing on the defective gene is 25 percent, and for two – 60 percent. Even this fact alone does not cause psoriasis to occur, because it is only a tendency to dermatitis, which is only activated by increased risk factors, such as chronic stress, other illnesses, lack of hygiene, poor diet or unhealthy lifestyle.
Many people believe that psoriasis is incurable and patients are condemned to it for the rest of their lives. This is only part of the truth, because although psoriasis is a chronic disease, good medications, proper diet and support of loved ones may make its symptoms alleviate or even stop for several years (remission) until the next, more mild disease return.
Psoriasis and quality of life
Unfortunately, statistical research and stories of people struggling with their disease show how huge a problem for them is not only the ailment itself, but above all the misunderstanding and social exclusion that they encounter on a daily basis. This condition creates a vicious cycle in which stress increases symptoms of psoriasis, and lowered self-esteem even leads to depression.
These are not purely theoretical conclusions. According to extensive survey research carried out at the Provincial Dermatological Clinic in Bydgoszcz, approx. 20 percent. patients with psoriasis had to change jobs due to their health condition. 53 percent of respondents heard from their family members that the ointments they use have an unpleasant smell, more than 1 percent. also revealed that the spouse was dissatisfied with their illness. Psoriasis also translates into a dramatic decrease in satisfaction with one’s social life. From 40 to 60 percent. of the respondents claimed that they saw the embarrassment of the person whom they shook their hand to greet and that they themselves felt stress when they were asked about the cause of their health condition. More than half of patients are ashamed of sunbathing in the sun, and only 10%. would dare to go to the pool.
Psoriasis is also a forced revolution in the diet, the way of using public transport, the style of dress and the use of hairdressers and beauticians. As much as 80 percent of the respondents indicated the need to change their wardrobe, replace short sleeves with long sleeves, avoid shorts and the embarrassment of trying on clothes in the store. Half of people suffering from psoriasis heard the opinion that it is a contagious disease, and due to the apparent reluctance of third parties, they avoid using public transport, where it was not uncommon for fellow passengers to move away from people with psoriasis after noticing their changes skin. Only 3 percent. of the respondents assessed their life as very good, and almost 60 percent. indicated that psoriasis prevents them from achieving their dreams and goals.
The difficult life of the sick
For many people affected by psoriasis, apart from physical discomfort, the disease is primarily a psychological problem. On many internet forums, patients quote stories of struggling with the disease. «You probably already know that psoriatic lesions often appear on the scalp. Do you know what dandruff looks like? Do you know the effect of white flakes falling off your head with every move? And psoriasis is such a squared dandruff! (…) Can you imagine how much courage you need to go to the hairdresser with something like that? It is not easy, because knowledge about psoriasis among hairdressers is as modest as in the whole society. Many of us have already experienced a scene like ‘Jadziaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa paid speaking speaking speaking party as’ have we been going as to come look at me here’. A terrifying prospect? » – one of the anonymous internet users asks. «How many times in your life have you come across a person suffering from psoriasis at the beach, at the bathing beach or in the swimming pool? What do you think it is like? … Dad with psoriasis stays at home, and the rest of the family goes on vacation to the seaside, right? No, usually the whole family gives up the sea »- he adds.
Darek, who has been struggling with psoriasis for 20 years, reports his experiences in a similar way. – The worst problem for a person suffering from psoriasis is probably summer, because a person shows up in short sleeves, and then… people react to it as something infectious, as something that they get infected with, from which you have to run away. More than once, I have heard different opinions about me, someone asked where I burned myself – he confesses.
The care of loved ones is an invaluable support for the sick. Karolina, a 22-year-old student, found out about it. – My mother is my friend, a psychologist – she always cheers me up when I look like one big ladybug. Thanks to her, I did not fall into depression, because she is always with me, she can always console me. My colleagues also know that I am sick. I do not hide it from anyone, because it is better, easier, because it is not my fault that I fell ill. They tolerate my illness, which is part of me – he says.
Treatment of psoriasis
Despite its incurability, psoriasis is not included in the register of chronic diseases of the Ministry of Health. Therefore, people suffering from its varieties are largely doomed to treatment with standard methods and the lack of funding for expensive pharmaceuticals. In the case of ordinary psoriasis, the most effective treatment is external treatment, which consists in stopping the excessive proliferation of the epidermis and drying and removing the scales. With the help of salicylic, saline and urea ointments as well as anthralin, corticosteroids and vitamin D3, about 70% of the skin can be treated locally. sick.
In the event of failure of external therapy, doctors prescribe systemic drugs with a much stronger effect, which behave like immunosuppressants, preventing the body from fighting overproduction of the epidermis. Unfortunately, agents such as cyclosporine, retinoids and fumaric acid can contribute to the occurrence of side effects, such as damage to the liver and kidneys.
For many patients, all types of phototherapy, i.e. light treatment, help to dry the epidermis. Salt baths are also recommended, including bathing in the Dead Sea or in water with salt derived from it. Many patients also find relief from using psychotherapy, taking sedative medications, and changing their diet, including, as some scholars have pointed out, gluten-free.