If you or your loved ones have been diagnosed with psoriasis, you are probably familiar with the irritating uneasy symptoms. You've probably wondered why your skin disorder developed in the first place and how is it that your symptoms come and go.
As with many other medical conditions, it is not yet known what exactly causes psoriasis. However, years of research have shown that genetics and the immune system contribute to the development of the disease.
During the disease diagnosis, your doctor may have asked you about your family's medical history. This is because, if you have an immediate family member suffering from psoriasis, you are at a higher risk of developing the skin disorder.
The Role of Genetics and the Immune System in Psoriasis
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, an estimated 10 percent of people inherit genes that increase their likelihood of getting psoriasis. Of those 10 percent, however, only about 2 to 3 percent actually develop the disorder. So far, 25 gene variants associated with psoriasis have been identified by scientists. It is believed that these genetic variants may cause behavioral changes in the body’s T cells – the immune system’s cells that normally fight harmful invaders in the body.
In psoriasis, scientists believe that your T cells mistakenly attack your healthy skin cells as harmful invaders. This immune response stimulates your skin to produce new cells more quickly than usual. This rapid production of new skin cells causes an accumulation of skin cells on the surface of your skin and the development of the thick, scaly patches you see with psoriasis.
This reaction occurs as a response to certain triggers.
Recognized Psoriasis Triggers
You may have noticed that there are times where your symptoms get better, and times when your symptoms develop or get worse. This is due to certain triggers activating your immune system, either environmental or physical, and can differ from person to person.
Below is a list of recognized psoriasis triggers. By tracking the timing and severity of your symptoms, you may be able to identify your specific trigger(s):
Stress:
Stress can trigger psoriasis for the first time or can worsen existing symptoms.
Skin injuries:
Skin that has been injured or traumatized can trigger psoriasis symptoms to appear. Such injuries can be from vaccinations, sunburns or scratches. This phenomenon is known as the Koebner phenomenon and can be treated if it is caught early enough.
Medications:
Lithium (used to treat manic depression and other psychiatric disorders)
Antimalarials
High blood pressure medication, such as Inderal
Heart medication, such as Quinidine
Arthritis medication, such as Indomethacin
Infection:
In general, if the immune system is affected, it will affect psoriasis. In particular, strep throat infection (an infection of the back of the throat including the tonsils caused by group A streptococcus (GAS)) is associated with guttate psoriasis which usually occurs in children. Additional conditions such as earache, bronchitis, tonsillitis or a respiratory infection may trigger psoriasis.
Other triggers:
Some sufferers of psoriasis have reported that allergies, diet and cold weather may trigger their psoriasis symptoms, although this is not scientifically based.
Controlling Psoriasis Symptoms
Although psoriasis cannot be cured, you can control your symptoms through an array of solutions from topical treatments, light therapy and systemic medications. Speak with your family doctor or dermatologist to understand which is the best treatment for you.
If you are looking for an all-natural, effective topical treatment, then DermaZor may be the ideal choice. DermaZor is the only patented, over-the-counter (OTC) treatment, recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation, that combines the healing properties of cannabis with all natural, multi-acting ingredients. Clinically tested, DermaZor® has proven efficacy in the treatment of skin disorders, relieving symptoms and restoring the skin to its natural and healthy state.