Psoriasis

            What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a disease/disorder, where angry red lesions appear on the skin, multiply, on a scale over with silvery patches. The word Psoriasis comes from ancient Greece, and means to itch. Red eruptions are on the surface of the skin and begin to itch. These areas form plaques over the redden lesions. The plaques resemble multi-layered scales of skin. Psoriasis varies in intensity from a few random spots to a massive outbreak covering the entire body and requiring hospitalization. Psoriasis can be genetically inherited. Recently it has been classified as being an autoimmune disorder, there is no known cure, only possible control over the severity. Psoriasis reacts. It has triggers which can cause the body to go from a very mild case to a severe within days. There are also other facts such as sunlight, which help decrease the severity. Arthritis can also stem from psoriasis, attacking the joint spaces, giving the psoriasis another disease process to deal with. This disease can be consuming. The ugliness of patches, the chronic itching and flaking, although not life threatening, impact the self esteem and life style of the psoriasis victim. Time and money are spent trying to keep it under control. Most therapy costs are covered by insurance, but it can be quite expensive.
             There are several different types of psoriasis, nail psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, erythrodermic, and psoriatic arthritis.
             Ultra Violet Light therapy- Light therapy using U V B has been know to be beneficial. .
             U V B is a physicians in prescription light boxes. It is not the same as the U V A light used at tanning . The difference between U V B and U V A is the length of the light wave. U V A is the light used in PUVA therapy in combination with psoralen. A medication is administered, either daily, topically, or the patient is soaked in a diluted solution of the medication prior to exposure to the light therapy.