Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease which also affects the joints, sometimes. It is a chronic disease and progresses through outbreaks. It disappears for extensive periods of time (remission) and reappears at a later date. It is not an infectious or contagious disease.

It is caused by the malfunction of the immune system, in particular by an improper activation of T lymphocytes that trigger:

• Excessive production and dilation of blood vessels of the skin (responsible for the red color of the lesions).
• Excessive production of keratinocytes, cells responsible for replacing layers of skin, in continuous and rapid renewal, which generates an accumulation and the production of the characteristic scaling skin.

Epidemiology

There is a genetic predisposition to suffer it which is accompanied by other triggering factors. It affects 2% - 3% of the world population. 650,000 Spanish people (1.4% of the total) suffer from psoriasis. It appears between 15 and 35 years of age and affects both sexes equally.

Is not very frequent in South America and Australia.

How is it manifested?

It can be easily recognized in the appearance of reddened, inflamed lesions, covered in whitish scales of variable thickness. Their edges are well-defined. It comes accompanied with itching. However, psoriasis is a disease that may manifest in other ways.

Triggering factors

• Cold weather.
• Trauma or pressure (Koebner).
• Infections (Virus, bacteria, HIV) trigger psoriasis.
• Emotional stress intensifies the illness.
• Medication (lithium, blocking, NSAIDs, ACE Inhibitors).
• Metabolic factors: hypocalcaemia and excessive alcohol intake worsen the disease.
• Endocrine factors: during puberty and menopause. Psoriasis improves with pregnancy and worsens after birth.

Types of psoriasis

• Plaque or vulgar psoriasis:/strong>
  • o It is the most frequent clinical form.
  • o Lesions measure > 1-2 cm.
  • o Areas affected: limbs, sacrum, abdomen and scalp.
• Guttate psoriasis:
  • o Lesions of less than 1 cm.
  • o Children or young adults.
  • o Areas: Torso, limbs and sometimes the scalp.
  • o Progresses with acute outbreaks.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis:
  • o Very rare. It affects 90% of the skin.
  • o Scaling erythema.
• Pustular Psoriasis:
  • o Pustules (pus pimples, non-infectious)./li>
• Arthritic psoriasis:
  • o Chronic inflammation of the joints.
  • o Pain, redness and swelling of the joints.
  • o If untreated it causes irreversible damage to the joints.
• Psoriasis of the scalp:
  • o Very frequent: between 50% - 80% of patients (forehead, neck and ears).
  • o Treatment is difficult: creams do not penetrate the scalp.
  • o Itching.
• Nail psoriasis:
  • o Nails in hands and feet..
  • o Holes of varying sizes on nails.
  • o Yellow and thin nails.
  • o The nail can break up easily and affected by inflammation.
  • o The nail may also separate or fall.
• Inverse psoriasis:
  • o Injuries in folds (armpits, groins, sub-mammary area, intergluteal area).
  • o From erythema to desquamation (minimum).
  • o Live erythema of precise edges, greasy, cracked and fissured.
  • o Subjected to moisture and maceration. Higher risk.
  • o Infection by fungi and bacteria.

General measures to treat psoriasis

The main objective of the treatment is going to be trying to control the symptoms for as long as possible and prevent the occurrence of new outbreaks.

The treatment always has to be individualized, depending on the severity of the disease, the lifestyle of the person, the diseases they have, their age and preferences.

In spite of all and in general, there are a series of common guidelines:

• -Bathing or showering is recommended daily to prevent secondary infections, using ingredients that help to remove scales (salicylic acid, urea...) and trying not to rub the skin and irritate it.
• -The daily application of creams or moisturizing and soothing lotions is recommended, as a complement to any treatment.
• -Sunlight is beneficial for its anti-inflammatory properties but special care should be taken with sunburn. It is advisable to avoid the sun at the central hours of the day.
• -Sea bathing also contributes positive properties to the skin.
• -Relaxation and anti-stress techniques may also be beneficial in preventing relapses.

Active ingredients

-Lactoferrin lactoperoxidase: Anti-inflammatory: modulates the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Immunomodulatory: modulates the immune response.
Bacteriostatic: captures iron, essential for the growth of the pathogen.
Bactericide: interacts with calcium and disrupts cell membranes.

-Zinc chloride: Antioxidant and healing.

-Phosphatidylcholine: Epithelializing: repairs damaged stratum corneum and improves the barrier function of the skin. Anti-inflammatory: reduces swelling in the area. Bactericide: prevents the proliferation of infections.

-Diacetate of chlorhexidine: Antibacterial: inhibits the triggers of the psoriasis. Prevents the superinfection of injuries. Bactericide: gram + and gram-.

-Tetrahydrocurcuminoide: Dye extracted from the rhizome of turmeric. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory, regenerating, anti-carcinogenic.

-Glycyrrhetinic acid: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory.

-Coal pitch: Antifungal, keratolytic and reduction in sebum secretion.

Associated products

-Hygiene and skincare:/strong>
Sebovalis shampoo.
Atopises moisturizing bath.

-Hydration:
Psorises Mist.
Acglicolic Classic body milk.
Uremol.
Primuvit crema.
Hidraloe facial moisturizer.

-Food supplements:
Primuvit capsules.

-Medical treatments:
Cortiespec (topical corticoid of average power).
Alfitar 0.066% topical solution (coal pitch).
Salipeel (salicylic acid peel).
Sesglicopeel (glycolic acid peel).
Silorgses nano meso solution (organic silicon).