World Psoriasis Day

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#WorldPsoriasisDay

Psoriasis Gets Under Your Skin

Psoriasis is known as a chronic condition where skin cells multiply too quickly due to an overactive immune system. The scalp, elbows, or knees are the most common areas where scaly, inflammatory skin patches appear, although other body parts may also be impacted. There may be cycles in the psoriasis symptoms, with flare-ups lasting a few weeks or months, followed by periods of remission or subsidence.

Facts about psoriasis
· Psoriasis is not contagious.
· Psoriasis usually progresses in relapses.
· The course of the disease varies from person to person and cannot be predicted.
· Women and men are affected about equally often.

Although the exact etiology of psoriasis has not yet been clarified, scientists know that a combination of environmental and genetic factors play a role.

Psoriasis can be treated in a variety of ways, and the extent, severity, and type of the disease will determine the treatment plan. While moderate and severe psoriasis may necessitate pills, injections, or UV light treatments, mild psoriasis can frequently be effectively controlled with creams or ointments. Controlling typical triggers, such as stress and skin damage, can also aid in symptom management.

The effects of psoriasis, however, extend far beyond the skin, according to 21st-century research.

                                                                   

Psoriasis is More Than Skin Disease

Psoriasis is sometimes misunderstood as “just” a cosmetic skin condition. In reality, though, it is a condition caused by an overactive immune system that can target numerous body parts. Today, it is no longer seen as a disease of the skin but as a systemic inflammatory disease and is therefore also referred to as “psoriatic disease.”

Psoriasis increases the likelihood of developing certain other illnesses. A condition is referred to as a “comorbidity” when it is caused by or associated with another disease. For instance, up to 33% of individuals with psoriasis also have psoriasis arthritis, a typical comorbidity of psoriasis.

According to the recent Joint AAD-NPF Guidelines of Care for the Management and Treatment of Psoriasis with Awareness and Attention to Comorbidities, other comorbidities for which psoriatic disease raises risk include:

The development of these many comorbidities is likely caused by or significantly influenced by systemic inflammation. Inflammatory immune cells and the substances they release are created in excess in psoriasis. When they circulate through the body via the bloodstream, they produce widespread inflammation that can result in the development of comorbidities.

                                                                   

The Body’s Defenses Gone Wrong

Inflammation is typically caused by a group of immune cells attempting to combat an infection or virus. The immune system has developed to trigger an inflammatory response by infiltrating immune cells and releasing factors.

However, this natural defense has gone astray in psoriatic disease. The overly active immune cells target inappropriate locations. They create psoriatic plaques on the skin. However, they can also affect the joints and result in psoriatic arthritis, for instance. They may start cardiovascular illness by inflaming the cells lining blood vessels for the heart’s blood supply. Our blood’s lipids may more readily adhere to the inner artery layer. Once there, the lipid particles form atherosclerotic plaques, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke if they break off and obstruct the vessel.

                                                                   

The Impact of Psoriatic Disease Comorbidities

Psoriasis and its comorbidities can shorten life. People with psoriasis tend to live a few years less than those without the condition. This is particularly true for those with severe psoriasis disease. It is not the psoriasis that’s shortening life span, but the heart attacks, strokes, and other comorbidities it can cause. The following numbers demonstrate how significant these comorbidities are.

Cardiovascular Disease

CVD is by far the deadliest comorbidity of psoriatic disease, and CVD risk begins early on in people with psoriasis. People with severe disease have a two-fold increase in the rate of first heart attack between the ages of 40 and 50 and a 44 percent increase in stroke compared to people without psoriasis.

Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Diabetes

Obesity is the most common comorbid condition in people with psoriasis. And it sets the stage for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance means the body is less able to move glucose, a type of sugar our body uses for energy, from the blood into cells. Glucose builds up in the blood and begins the processes that cause type 2 diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression as well as anxiety are prevalent in psoriasis patients. Up to 62 percent of people with psoriasis have depression, according to some studies. The number of individuals with mental health concerns for psoriasis is likely even larger over a lifetime due to the impact of the condition and because often many do not seek treatment or care. Depression undermines quality of life, can make it harder to engage in a healthy lifestyle, and is a well-recognized trigger for psoriatic disease flares.

                                                                   

Treating Psoriatic Disease Is Key

The notion that psoriasis is a skin condition that may be cured with creams and ointments is no longer valid. Many connections to psoriasis are now known, and more and more therapies are available. The scientific and medical view of the disease has fundamentally changed. The effect of some new therapies differs fundamentally from that of older drugs. Modern therapies intervene in the inflammatory process in a targeted manner and interrupt it, for example by inhibiting certain messenger substances of the immune system.

The advances in psoriasis are also reflected in the treatment guidelines. The guideline for psoriasis states freedom from symptoms as a fundamental therapeutic goal. Which treatment is suitable for achieving the therapeutic goal depends primarily on the severity of the psoriatic disease.

Therapy of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

  • Biologics therapy (pens or injections): Biologics are biotechnologically produced psoriasis medications. They specifically interfere in the misguided reaction of the immune system by blocking messenger substances that play a central role in the inflammatory process and interrupting this inflammatory process. In this way, the inflammation and the accelerated skin renewal process can be stopped.
  • Conventional internal (systemic) treatment: In conventional internal (systemic) treatment, medication is administered as tablets or injections to treat psoriasis. They influence the inflammatory process of psoriasis in different ways. The internal treatment of psoriasis must be carried out with particular care so that possible side effects are avoided or recognized at an early stage. Regular check-ups with the doctor are therefore necessary. Immunosuppressants, fumaric acid preparations, or retinoids are used for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
  • Physical treatment: Physical treatment of psoriasis includes UV-light and bath therapy. They have a physical effect on the skin. Both forms of treatment are carried out in a clinic or specially equipped dermatologist’s practice.

Therapy of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

  • External (topical) therapy (creams or ointments) for mild psoriasis
  • Supplementary Interventions

In addition to treatment, supplementary interventions like psychological support, interactions in self-help groups, or a mindful lifestyle can offer a positive boost and enhance overall wellbeing.

                                                                        

#WorldPsoriasisDay

Each year on October 29th, the global community unites on World Psoriasis Day to raise awareness and advocate for progress in the fight against psoriatic disease. This year, the focus is on the profound impact of psoriatic disease on families, highlighted by the theme “Psoriatic Disease and Family.” This chronic condition is a painful, lifelong noncommunicable disease that affects millions worldwide, influencing not just the lives of those diagnosed but also their loved ones.

The challenges of living with psoriatic disease extend far beyond skin lesions and joint pain; they infiltrate daily life and reshape family dynamics. Patients endure both physical symptoms and emotional struggles, including anxiety and depression, exacerbated by social stigma and treatment complexities.

World Psoriasis Day 2024 aims to raise awareness of these challenges and calls for stronger support networks. Psoriatic disease does not discriminate. At least 60 million people around the world are living with this illness. They represent every nation, every race, every gender, and every age. At IFPA | Stories, you will find stories about embracing life with psoriatic disease.

Don´t hide! Your Health Matters!


                                                                  


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