Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Health Complications of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that speeds up the natural life cycle of skin cells. The condition causes healthy skin cells to multiply rapidly and grow over the existing skin thus creating red patches on the skin. There are no known causes of psoriasis; however, studies indicate that an imbalance in neutrophils (white blood cells) to aid the immune system fight off infections can trigger an overproduction of skin cells leading to psoriasis. Overactive T-cells originally designed to attack and destroy infections can turn against the immune system and attack the healthy cells inadvertently triggering an increase in the production of healthy skin cells to counter the attack. Psoriasis is the result of the rapid skin buildup forming the outer layer that can cause painful and sensitive skin patches. Infections, skin injuries including cuts, scrapes, bites, sunburns, stress, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency, and side effects of certain medications taken for managing high blood pressure can trigger a psoriasis infection. A family history of people suffering from obesity, viral, and bacterial infections also increase the risk of psoriasis infection. Plaque psoriasis is one of the most common types of psoriasis that results in dry and raised skin lesions covered with silvery scales.