It is bad enough finding out that you have Psoriasis, but what do you do when your skin starts to change? How will anybody look at you the same way again? As hard as it may be to believe, there is hope and things are never as bad as they seem! What Causes the Skin to Change? Psoriasis can appear at any age but it is more likely to strike between the ages of 11 and 45.
It is a condition which affects only 2% of the population, and it is caused by the cells within the body maturing quicker than usual.
Usually our cells take around 21-28 days to mature and make their way to the surface, by which time the dead skin cells have already been shed.
However, with Psoriasis, the skin cells only usually take around 2-3 days to mature, and that is faster than the dead skin cells can shed form the skin.
This causes the cells to accumulate together and they are then visible to the naked eye.
As to what actually causes the condition, it is thought that anything from a throat infection to emotional stress can trigger it at any time.
What do the Skin Changes look like and who can catch it? As the cells accumulate, the skin appears to have raised red patches, covered by silver colored scales.
It affects any part of the body from the elbows to the knees, and the back to the scalp.
There are some areas of the body which you will notice that they do not have the usual coloring.
These areas include the genitals and the creases under a woman's breasts.
Here, the skin will look more shiny and red than scaly.
It is impossible to catch the condition; otherwise it would be more common than it is today.
It also cannot move from one body part to another, basically wherever it shows, that is where it will stay.
In each case the severity of the condition will vary and you may be one of the lucky people who only have a small patch, or you may be one of the unlucky people who encounter full blown eruptions covering large areas of skin.
The Emotional Damage Psoriasis Can Cause and the Treatments Available Many people who suffer from Psoriasis can become very withdrawn and depressed.
It is understandable that if you are suffering from the condition, you will feel isolated and like people will make fun of you, or be disgusted if they see it.
However, there are treatments which can help.
Most Psoriasis sufferers only have small patches of the condition on their skin and so with that, creams and ointments are often prescribed.
There are hardly any side effects associated with creams and ointments so they are safe to use.
Serious cases of the condition will usually have to visit a Dermatologist who will either treat the condition with you as an in-patient or an out-patient.
Whichever treatment method you end up receiving, it is important to moisturize daily in order to keep the skin as comfortable as possible.
It is not unusual for people suffering with Psoriasis to lose the condition for long periods of time.
It does often just go away without any explanation, though I'm sure the sufferers do not mind! If Psoriasis is affecting your every day life and you are losing your self esteem, it is important to seek help from a qualified psychiatrist.
They will be able to help you to come to terms with the condition, and also to change your negative thoughts into positive ones.
You really should not suffer in silence as the problem will only get worse.
Overall, Psoriasis is not very common but there are treatments available for you if you do end up with the condition.
You are not alone, however rare it may be, and there is no need for you to feel ashamed.