What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the skin and rarely it also affects joints which it is called psoriatic arthritis.

Sometimes psoriasis is associated with many other health conditions:

-Inflammatory bowel disease.

-Cardiac diseases.

-Psoriatic arthritis.

-Diabetes.

What causes psoriasis?

It is an autoimmune condition. The exact cause of this is unknown. Some factors which are responsible for this. There are:

-Infections, such as throat or skin infections.

-Injury to the skin like:

–Such as a cut or scrape.

–Sunburn etc.

-Stress and anxiety are the major factors.

-Alcohol intake.

-Vitamin D deficiency.

-Patient having a family history.

-Viral and bacterial infections like recurrent throat infections etc.

-Obesity persons.

-Smoking.

Who is prone to psoriasis?

-People who have a family history of the disease.

-People who are suffering from infections such as throat infections.

-People who are stressed.

-People who suffer from psoriatic arthritis.

-People who suffer from cardiac diseases.

-People who suffer from high cholesterol.

-People who suffer from anxiety and depression etc.

What are the types of psoriasis?

Some types of psoriasis are:

-Psoriatic arthritis

-Plaque psoriasis

-Guttate psoriasis

-Nail psoriasis

-Pustular psoriasis

-Erythrodermic psoriasis etc.

What are the signs and symptoms of psoriasis?

The common sites for appearance are:

-near elbows,

-knees and

-middle of the body.

-Red patches appear anywhere on the body.

-Red flakes of skin.

-Itching.

-Skin is itchy.

-Dry skin.

-Skin is inflamed.

-Joint pains

Is Psoriasis dangerous?

Yes, in some types of psoriasis pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis are the rarest and the most dangerous. And it depends from person to person.

What is the differential diagnosis of psoriasis?

-Adult blepharitis

-Eczema

-Diaper dermatitis

-Allergic contact dermatitis

-Lichen planus

What are the complications of psoriasis?

-Psoriatic arthritis.

-Eye conditions.

-Type 2 diabetes.

-High blood pressure.

-Cardiovascular diseases.

-Other autoimmune diseases.

-Celiac disease etc.

Can psoriasis be caused by stress?

Yes, psoriasis can be caused by stress.

What food triggers psoriasis?

-Alcohol and smoking may trigger this condition.

-Recurrent skin infections.

-Spicy food is also responsible for this.

Can homoeopathic medicines help in this case?

Yes, homoeopathic medicines are helpful in this case. Some of the homeopathic medicines are:

-Kali Ars: Intolerable itching , worse undressing and warmth.

-Sulphur: Skin affection after local medications. Itching, burning worse scratching and washing.

-Petroleum: Itching at night. Slightest scratch makes skin suppurate. 

-Psorinum: Dirty look. Eruption mainly on scalp, folds of skin.

-Tuberculinum: Intense itching worst at night. Can be triggered by thyroid hormones.

-Ars Iodum: Persistent itching of various parts of body, most of back.

-Graphite: Obstinate dryness of skin with lack of perspiration. Eruptions oozing out thick honey like fluid.

Is Psoriasis and Eczema same disease condition?

Psoriasis and eczema are two common skin conditions, but they are different in causes, appearance, and treatments. While both can cause discomfort and itching, understanding their key differences can help manage them better.  Here’s a simple comparison:

Feature	Psoriasis	Eczema
Cause	Autoimmune condition (immune system attacks skin cells)	Usually triggered by environmental factors (like allergies)
Appearance	Red, thick, scaly patches with silver-white scales	Red, itchy, inflamed skin, sometimes with blisters
Common Areas Affected	Elbows, knees, scalp, lower back	Hands, feet, face, inside elbows, knees
Triggers	Stress, infections, cold weather, skin injury	Allergens, dry skin, soaps, certain fabrics
Itchiness	Moderate to intense, can be painful	Intense itching, sometimes unbearable
Age of Onset	Usually develops in early adulthood or teens	Can start in childhood but may continue into adulthood
Treatment	Topical treatments (creams), phototherapy, biologics	Moisturizers, steroid creams, antihistamines
Chronic or Temporary?	Chronic, with flare-ups	Can be chronic or temporary, depending on triggers
Skin Texture	Skin can become thick and cracked	Skin can become dry, scaly, and inflamed
Pain	Can be painful, especially if cracked or bleeding	Often itchy, but pain is less common than with psoriasis