INFO - Psoriasis: effects don't always stop with the skin

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Psoriasis: Effects Don't Always Stop With The Skin

Medical News Today

Article Date: 31 Dec 2009 - 1:00 PST

Psoriasis, a chronic disease that causes red, raised patches of skin,

is increasingly seen as a systemic disease with links to arthritis and

cardiovascular disease. The December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's

HealthSource provides an overview of this sometimes embarrassing

condition, what's known about it and how it's treated. Highlights of

the overview include:

-- Symptoms: Patches of thick, red skin covered with silvery, flaky

scales commonly appear on the elbows and knees, but can appear

anywhere on the body. They result from skin cells on overdrive,

reproducing much faster than normal. Doctors aren't sure why this

overproduction occurs, although genetic and environmental factors

likely play roles. Psoriasis symptoms come and go and flare in

response to triggers that can include infections, some medications,

alcohol, smoking, stress, sunburn, skin irritation or injury.

-- A systemic illness: Doctors are finding that psoriasis is more than

a skin disorder. About one in four people with psoriasis develop a

form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis that can cause pain,

stiffness and swelling in the joints. Studies have shown that people

with psoriasis face a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and other

cardiovascular problems. The underlying link may be chronic

inflammation, which plays a role in psoriasis and heart disease.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174914.php

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