What Type Of Infection Is Psoriasis

How Long Do Psoriasis Injections Last

The amount of time the medications will last varies. The type of medication being used will determine how long it remains effective and how often a person will need additional doses.

Injections for psoriasis can take between 3 and 6 months to begin working. During that time, a persons doctor may suggest other treatments to manage psoriasis symptoms.

A person can continue taking injections for psoriasis as long as the medications are deemed effective.

What Can I Do To Help Treat My Psoriasis

There may not be a cure yet but there is much you can do to help maintain and control your psoriasis. Psoriasis, regardless of location or type, is often irritated by contact, particularly tight clothing such as elasticated waistbands, socks, tights, and underwear. It may be useful to wear looser clothing where psoriasis is likely to be irritated either when flaring or during periods of treatment. Identifying factors that may cause your psoriasis to flare, using a diary, can be helpful.

Finding Relief For Your Psoriasis

Looking to alleviate dry, painful skin? Check out our Psoriasis Honey Skincare line today and browse our collection of products, specifically formulated with you in mind. Our ingredients contain natural moisturizers like aloe vera and honey, to help nourish and calm even the most difficult psoriatic flare-ups.

Recommended Reading: Can A Urine Infection Cause Swollen Testicles

Flexural Or Inverse Psoriasis

Flexural or inverse psoriasis often appears in skinfolds, such as under the breasts or in the armpits or groin area. This type of psoriasis is red or purple and often shiny and smooth.

The sweat and moisture from skinfolds keeps this form of psoriasis from shedding skin scales. Sometimes, its misdiagnosed as a fungal or bacterial infection. The skin-on-skin contact can make inverse psoriasis very uncomfortable.

Most people with inverse psoriasis also have a different form of psoriasis in other places on the body.

What Can Prevent Someone From Getting A Second Type Of Psoriasis

Most types of psoriasis cannot be prevented.

That said, if you already have plaque psoriasis, it may be possible to reduce your risk of developing another type of psoriasis on your skin. Dermatologists recommend taking the following precautions:

• Protect your skin to prevent sunburn

• Take medication as directed and speak with your dermatologist before stopping a medication

• Treat your psoriasis so that its well-controlled

• Watch your weight so that you stay at a weight thats recommended for your age and height

Watching your weight may help prevent inverse psoriasis. This type of psoriasis is more common in people who are 20 or more pounds overweight.

You May Like: Where To Get Tested For Urinary Tract Infection

What Are Other Types Of Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. About 80% to 90% of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis.

Other, less common types of psoriasis include:

• Inverse psoriasis appears in skin folds. It may look like thin pink plaques without scale.
• Guttate psoriasis may appear after a sore throat caused by a streptococcal infection. It looks like small, red, drop-shaped scaly spots in children and young adults.
• Pustular psoriasis has small, pus-filled bumps on top of the red patches or plaques.
• Sebopsoriasis typically appears on the face and scalp as red bumps and plaques with greasy yellow scale. This type is a cross between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.

What Is Psoriasis Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes plaques, which are itchy or sore patches of thick, dry, discolored skin.

While any part of your body can be affected, psoriasis plaques most often develop on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet.

Like other autoinflammatory diseases, psoriasis occurs when your immune system which normally attacks infectious germs begins to attack healthy cells instead.

You May Like: Can Hiv Be Cured Within 72 Hours Of Infection

Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A

For this treatment, you’ll first be given a tablet containing compounds called psoralens, or psoralen may be applied directly to the skin. This makes your skin more sensitive to light. Your skin is then exposed to a wavelength of light called ultraviolet A . This light penetrates your skin more deeply than ultraviolet B light.

This treatment may be used if you have severe psoriasis that hasn’t responded to other treatment. Side effects of the treatment include nausea, headaches, burning and itchiness. You may need to wear special glasses for 24 hours after taking the tablet to prevent the development of cataracts. Long-term use of this treatment isn’t encouraged, as it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

Who Does It Affect

It affects men, women and children alike. It can appear at any age in varying degrees but usually between the ages of 10 and 30. The severity of the disease varies enormously, from a minute patch to large patches covering most body areas. Psoriasis can also run in familiesand it is known that the disease is multi-genetic and therefore children may not necessarily inherit psoriasis. It is estimated that if one parent has psoriasis then there is a 3 out of 20 chance that a child will develop the condition. If both parents have psoriasis this increases to about 15 out of 20 . Interestingly, if a child develops psoriasis and neither parent is affected there is a 1 out of 5 chance that a brother or sister will also get psoriasis. This is because the condition is known to skip generations, so somewhere there will be a familial link to a relative via one or both parents.

Read Also: Do I Need Medicine For A Sinus Infection

What If Those Psoriasis Treatments Dont Work

If psoriasis doesnt improve, your healthcare provider may recommend these treatments:

• Light therapy: UV light at specific wavelengths can decrease skin inflammation and help slow skin cell production.
• PUVA: This treatment combines a medication called psoralen with exposure to a special form of UV light.
• Methotrexate: Providers sometimes recommend this medication for severe cases. It may cause liver disease. If you take it, your provider will monitor you with blood tests. You may need periodic liver biopsies to check your liver health.
• Retinoids: These vitamin A-related drugs can cause side effects, including birth defects.
• Cyclosporine: This medicine can help severe psoriasis. But it may cause high blood pressure and kidney damage.
• Immune therapies: Newer immune therapy medications work by blocking the bodys immune system so it cant jumpstart an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis.

Does This Mean I Will Have Psoriasis For Life

In the absence of a cure you will always have psoriasis, but this does not mean that the signs will always be visible. Normally, the rash tends to wax and wane . There will be periods when your skin is good, with little or no sign of psoriasis. Equally, there will be times when it flares up. The length of time between clear skin and flare-ups differs for each individual and is unpredictable. It may be weeks, months or even years.

Don’t Miss: Tooth Infection Cause Sinus Infection

Psoriasis And Quality Of Life

Doctors and people with psoriasis donât always agree on whatâs mild and whatâs serious. Psoriasis can affect self-image and make people self-conscious. This can even lead to depression and social isolation.

Only a frank discussion with your doctor about what living with psoriasis means to you will get these issues out in the open.

Treatment Options For Psoriasis

There are a variety of psoriasis treatments available, and they each work in different ways to help treat psoriasis. How do you know which is right for you? Start by talking to a dermatologist who can explain how each option works. Then you can work together to choose an appropriate treatment option for you.

Is it really psoriasis? Learn more about the symptoms:

If you have any questions about this AbbVie Inc. website that have not been answered, contact us. The content on this site has been created solely for US residents. It is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be used to replace a discussion with a healthcare professional. All decisions regarding patient care must be handled by a healthcare professional, and be made based on the unique needs of each patient.Copyright ©2019 ABBVIE INC. North Chicago, IL 60064

Also Check: How To Care For An Infected Tooth

Psoriatic Arthritis: What Is The Connection

Psoriatic arthritis : 1 in 4 of people with psoriasis may develop an associated arthritis called psoriatic arthropathy, which causes pain and swelling in the joints and connective tissue, accompanied by stiffness particularly in the mornings and when rising from a seat. Most commonly affected sites are the hands, feet, lower back, neck and knees, with movement in these areas becoming severely limited. Chronic fatigue is a common complaint linked with this condition. If you are experiencing mild aches and pains and have psoriasis, even very mildly, consult your dermatologist for further advice and if necessary a referral to a rheumatologist for further assessments. For more detailed information on psoriatic arthritis see What is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Risk Factors And Etiology

Approximately one-third of patients with psoriasis have a first-degree relative with the condition. Research suggests a multifactorial mode of inheritance.2,3 Many stressful physiologic and psychological events and environmental factors are associated with the onset and worsening of the condition. Direct skin trauma can trigger psoriasis . Streptococcal throat infection may also trigger the condition or exacerbate existing psoriasis. Human immunodeficiency virus infection has not been shown to trigger psoriasis, but can exacerbate existing disease. As the infection progresses, psoriasis often worsens.1

Smoking increases the risk of psoriasis and its severity.1,4 Obesity and alcohol use and abuse are also associated with psoriasis.4,5 These associations may not be causative patients with psoriasis may be more susceptible to unhealthy behaviors.4

Read Also: Middle Ear Infection Tympanostomy Tube

Are There Complications Of Psoriasis

In some people, psoriasis causes more than itchiness and red skin. It can lead to swollen joints and arthritis. If you have psoriasis, you may be at higher risk of:

• Use medicated shampoo for scales on your scalp.

Other steps you should take to stay as healthy as possible:

• Talk to your healthcare provider about lowering your risk for related conditions, such as heart disease, depression and diabetes.
• Lower your stress with meditation, exercise or seeing a mental health professional.

How Is Psoriasis Treated

There is no cure for psoriasis but there are many treatments that can help to keep it under control.

Mild psoriasis is usually treated with products applied to the skin. These include:

• corticosteroid creams or ointments
• vitamin D preparations

You may also receive ultraviolet light therapy. This can slow down the production of skin cells.

If your psoriasis needs stronger treatment, you may be prescribed oral medicines or injected medicines to reduce the immune response. Two new medicines for severe psoriasis are now subsidised for people with psoriasis in Australia, Tremfya and Ilumya.

The best thing you can do to improve the psoriasis is quite smoking and limit how much alcohol you consume.

You can help manage your psoriasis by:

• taking your prescribed treatment regularly to help prevent flare-ups
• reducing stress
• having a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy diet

Recommended Reading: Apple Cider Vinegar For Sinus Infection

Can Psoriasis Be Treated

Yes, there are many forms of treatment for psoriasis, which range from those you apply to the skin to tablets, and more recently injectable therapies, See Treatments for Psoriasis.

Many people who have psoriasis find that the sun and artificial ultraviolet light helps to improve their skins appearance. For some the change is dramatic. Be aware that exposure to the sun and artificial UV therapy can cause damage to the skin. See Psoriasis and the sun and Psoriasis and phototherapy

For some people, talking therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy can also help them understand the psychological impact of psoriasis and provide a safe therapy which may help them cope with psoriasis. See our free online CBT programme

Your general practitioner or dermatologist will be best placed to advise you and keep you informed of all current and new treatments available and to recommend the best treatment programme for you personally.

Remember: Your treatment can only be as good as you allow it to be – that means if the treatment takes six weeks, you have to follow it as instructed for six weeks and no ducking out! Adherence to treatment instructions is an essential part of managing your psoriasis.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Psoriasis

Dry, thick, and raised patches on the skin are the most common sign of psoriasis. These patches are often covered with a silvery-white coating called scale, and they tend to itch.

While patches of thickened, dry skin are common, psoriasis can cause many signs and symptoms. What you see and feel tends to vary with the:

• Type of psoriasis you have

• Places psoriasis appears on your body

• Amount of psoriasis you have

Read Also: Best Otc Yeast Infection Medication

Is Psoriasis The Same As Eczema

Psoriasis and eczema are two different skin conditions. They differ in where the disease appears on the body, how much it itches and how it looks. Eczema tends to appear more often behind the knees and inside the elbows. Eczema also causes more intense itching than psoriasis. Many people, especially children, can get both eczema and psoriasis.

The Driving Force Of Systemic Inflammation In Pv: An Aberrant Gut/skin Microbiome

The human microbiome displays a high degree of variation at inter- and intrapersonal level . Consequently, it has been impossible to define a healthy microbiome . However, it has become apparent that certain compositions of microbes may promote both health and disease . The term dysbiosis refers to alterations in the composition of the microbiota and has been implicated in the etiology of various diseases .

Dysbiosis of both the gut and skin microbiome has been associated with psoriasis . Additionally, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota may contribute to the development of a leaky gut, facilitating bacterial translocation, which may act as a driving force of the inflammatory response . This is due to the shedding of functionally significant inflammagens, such as lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid , by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively . Furthermore, evidence is accumulating that suggests a link between the gut and skin, namely the gut-skin axis. It may be possible that dysbiosis of the gut microbiome may alter systemic immunity, resulting in dyshomeostasis and impaired functioning of the skin .

Read Also: Oral Medication For Yeast Infection Prescription

How Often Does Someone Get Injections For Psoriasis

The time between injections will depend on the type of medication a person is prescribed.

For example, etanercept injections are given twice weekly for 3 months and then once a week thereafter. And after an initial injection of ustekinumab, the follow-up injections will occur at 4 weeks and then every 12 weeks.

Some of these medications are administered in the doctors office each time. Other types will require a visit for the first injection that includes instructions on how a person can administer the following doses at home.

Skin Infections: Treatment And Prevention

A psoriasis lesion means the skin is broken and irritated, therefore is more prone to complicate with a skin infection. Additionally, some drugs used for the management of psoriasis work by suppressing the immune system, therefore increasing the risk of infections. Any type of infection can trigger a psoriasis flare up, so it’s important to do all you can to prevent a psoriasis infection, and get treatment promptly if you do get one.

You May Like: Best Treatment For Mild Yeast Infection

Research And Statistics: Who Has Psoriasis

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, about 7.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis. Most are white, but the skin disease also affects Black, Latino, and Asian Americans as well as Native Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The disease occurs about equally among men and women. According to the National Institutes of Health , it is more common in adults, and you are at a greater risk if someone in your family has it. A study published in September 2016 in the journal PLoS One concluded that interactions between particular genes as well as genetic and environmental factors play an important role in the diseases development.

People with psoriasis generally see their first symptoms between ages 15 and 30, although developing the disease between 50 and 60 years of age is also common.

The biggest factor for determining prognosis is the amount of disease someone has, says Michael P. Heffernan, MD, a dermatologist at the San Luis Dermatology and Laser Clinic in San Luis Obispo, California.

Problems With The Immune System

Your immune system is your body’s defence against disease and it helps fight infection. One of the main types of cell used by the immune system is called a T-cell.

T-cells normally travel through the body to detect and fight invading germs, such as bacteria. But in people with psoriasis, they start to attack healthy skin cells by mistake.

This causes the deepest layer of skin to produce new skin cells more quickly than usual, triggering the immune system to produce more T-cells.

It’s not known what exactly causes this problem with the immune system, although certain genes and environmental triggers may play a role.

Don’t Miss: Antibiotics For Uti Bladder Infection

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed And Treated

Psoriasis often has a typical appearance that a primary care doctor can recognize, but it can be confused with other skin diseases , so a dermatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriasis usually depends on how much skin is affected, how bad the disease is , or the location . Treatments range from creams and ointments applied to the affected areas to ultraviolet light therapy to drugs . Many people who have psoriasis also have serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Some people with psoriasis also have an inflammatory condition which affects their joints, called psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis has many of the same symptoms as other types of arthritis, so a rheumatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis usually involves the use of drugs .

Psoriatic disease may be treated with drugs or a combination of drugs and creams or ointments.