Psoriasis Symptoms

Individuals with psoriasis experience skin conditions such as itching, cracking, stinging, burning, or bleeding (ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). These symptoms are usually worse in the winter months due to the lack of sunlight and low indoor humidity (Hall 132). The skin is most likely to crack at the joints where the body bends or in areas where the individual fails to refrain from scratching. Scratching can also lead to bleeding and infection which is why it should be avoided at all costs. This skin condition has also been known to affect fingernails and toenails by causing pits or dents in them. There is also the possibility that the soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia can be affected. In some cases, individuals experience joint inflammation, which can lead to the development of arthritis symptoms. This condition is known as psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis May Affect The Eyes

Psoriasis is a common skin disease. Ocular signs occur in approximately 10% of patients, and they are more common in men than in women. Patients with ocular findings almost always have psoriatic skin disease; however, it is rare for the eye to become involved before the skin.

Psoriasis involves hyperproliferation of the keratinocytes in the epidermis. The cause of the loss of control of keratinocyte turnover is unknown. However, environmental, genetic, and immunologic factors appear to play a role. Psoriasis is associated with certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, particularly human leukocyte antigen Cw6 (HLA-Cw6). In some families, psoriasis is an autosomal dominant trait.

Disease exacerbations can be triggered by trauma, stress, alcohol, medications, and infection (eg, staphylococcal, streptococcal, human immunodeficiency virus). The epidermis is infiltrated by a large number of activated T cells, which appear to be capable of inducing keratinocyte proliferation. Conjunctival impression cytology demonstrated a higher incidence of squamous metaplasia, neutrophil clumping, and nuclear chromatin changes in patients with psoriasis.

Statistics On Psoriasis

The following statistics show that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are common, life-altering and often debilitating conditions.
Worldwide
Psoriasis affects an estimated 2-3 percent of the world's population.
125 million people worldwide have psoriasis, according to the World Psoriasis Day consortium.
National health concern
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 5.8 and 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.
Studies have shown that between 10 percent and 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.
National Psoriasis Foundation Benchmark SurveyIn 2001, the National Psoriasis Foundation commissioned the Benchmark Survey on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. The results provided prevalence information, increased our understanding of the impact of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and demonstrated that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis carry a substantial burden.
The statistics below come from the Benchmark Survey.
Prevalence
2.2 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with psoriasis, confirming that psoriasis is a common disease.
11 percent of those diagnosed with psoriasis have also been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. This is a prevalence of 0.25 percent of American adults in the general population.2
Psoriasis prevalence in African Americans was 1.3 percent compared to 2.5 percent of Caucasians.
Quality of life
Psoriasis is not a cosmetic problem. Nearly 60 percent reported their disease to be a large problem in their everyday life.
Nearly 40 percent with psoriatic arthritis reported their disease to be a large problem in everyday life.
Patients with psoriasis covering more of their body (more extensive skin disease) experienced a greater negative impact on their quality of life.
Psoriasis had a greater impact on quality of life in women and younger patients.
Treatment satisfaction
Less than 40 percent of respondents indicated they were very satisfied with any of the four therapies assessed in the study (acitretin [brand name Soriatane], cyclosporine, methotrexate or PUVA [psoralen plus ultraviolet light A]).
Nearly 80 percent of persons who were very dissatisfied with their treatment did not have severe disease (less than 10 palms of coverage or <10 percent BSA).
Members of the National Psoriasis Foundation reported their disease to be significantly less of a burden and were more satisfied with treatment.
Age of onset
Psoriasis often appears between the ages of 15 and 25, but can develop at any age.
Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can develop at any time.
Severity of psoriasis
The National Psoriasis Foundation defines mild psoriasis as affecting less than three percent of the body; 3 percent to 10 percent is considered moderate; more than ten percent is considered severe. The palm of the hand equals 1 percent of the skin. However, the severity of psoriasis is also measured by how psoriasis affects a person's quality of life. Psoriasis can have a serious impact even if it involves a small area, such as the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
The majority of people with psoriasis have mild disease.
Nearly one-quarter of people with psoriasis have cases that are considered moderate to severe.
Cost of psoriasis
Overall costs of treating psoriasis may exceed $3 billion annually. A 1993 study estimated that between $2 and $3 billion was spent annually on psoriasis treatments.
Genetic aspects of psoriasis
About one out of three people with psoriasis report that a relative had psoriasis.
If one parent has psoriasis, a child has about a 10 percent chance of having psoriasis. If both parents have psoriasis, a child has approximately a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.