Friday 15 June 2012

Guttate Psoriasis



This form of psoriasis looks like small, salmon pink drops on the skin.  It is not contagious and may be genetic. It usually appears on the arms and legs; it could also cover a large portion of the body.

Guttate Psoriasis is often triggered by strep throat infection Outbreaks of Guttate Psoriasis can go away and not reoccur. This form of psoriasis is uncommon. Guttate Psoriasis is more common in kids and adults younger than 30 years of age.

Factors that trigger Guttate Psoriasis are streptococcal infections, usually in the form of tonsillo-pharyngitis before the outbreak. Viral infections such as chickenpox may also trigger outbreaks in children.

Guttate Psoriasis lesions usually itch. The outbreak usually starts on the trunk, arms or legs and sometimes spreads to the face, ears or scalp. The scales of guttate Psoriasis are much finer than those associated with plague Psoriasis.

Although any form of psoriasis is not preventable, flare-ups can be reduced by avoiding triggers such as scratching or rubbing vigorously, which may lead to psoriatic lesions on unaffected areas.
Home remedies for Guttate Psoriasis  is a saltwater soak. Simply soak in warm salt water for 20 minutes. Vitamin E is also another good home remedy, as this vitamin is good for the skin. Chamomile tea is also known for calming the skin. Change your lifestyle, do regular exercise as this strengthens the immune system.  Avoid caffeine, alcohol and refined sugars. Try drinking bitter gourd juice with an added  teaspoon of lime juice, drink this on an empty stomach daily and see improvements  after six months. Learn to manage your stress, as stress tends to flare up psoriasis. Consider meditating or take up yoga classes  helps to relieve some stress. Try bathing in dandruff shampoo. If your psoriasis is on the scalp, this will help. Eat a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables.

If your Guttate Psoriasis is a mild case, you should keep your skin moist. Apply thick moisturizes after a bath to keep in moisture and soften the skin. Exposure to the sun may also be helpful, but avoid sunburn. Pharmaceutical topical steroids may help to reduce  inflammation and itching.
To sum it all up Guttate Psoriasis usually clears up within a few weeks, or it may lead to a chronic case of plague psoriasis. It is very important to take extra care of yourself during an outbreak to prevent reoccurrence of this disease.

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Living wth Psoriasis



I’ve been living with psoriasis for the past 6 years, not many people know what it is or where it comes from. I would like to inform you about this disease and how it affected my life.

Firstly, what exactly is psoriasis? It appears as red patchy scales on the skin, it occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells.

Psoriasis is not contagious, although it may seem that way. It mostly appears on the elbows, knees and scalp, depending on what type of psoriasis you have.
There are five types of psoriasis. I have plague psoriasis, which is the most common form.  It appears as silvery red scales on my knees, elbows and being dark skinned doesn’t help much, I look like a leopard. The other four types of psoriasis are guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic.

It is said that the cause of psoriasis is not known, it could be triggered by an injury to the skin or it could be genetic. I believe that stress had a significant role with regards to my psoriasis.  At the time I was diagnosed, I just gave birth to my first child and suffered from post natal depression the psoriasis soon followed.
I have tried numerous amounts of medication on the market. I often stressed about this disease, but soon realized that by stressing I was just aggravating it more. So I began my research, although I’m not a health freak, I had to make drastic changes to my diet.  Lots of vegetables and water, not my favorite.  I discovered  Omega 3,6 and 9, It contributes a great deal to my health, after using it for 4 months, I noticed an enormous change in my skin, it wasn’t flaking anymore, it almost seemed as though my psoriasis was going away.
It didn’t go away, but this miraculous change in my condition boosted my self esteem, which was at an all time low. I have accepted this disease as part of who I am. It makes me unique, it teaches me to take better care of myself. I don’t smoke as much cigarettes as I used to, I’m down to 3 a day, my alcohol intake is minimal and occasional.  Both these factors aggravate psoriasis. I have a new outlook on life; yes people will stare at your skin and make remarks, so what, its only words.  This disease that I once saw as ruining my life, turned out to be a life saver, I would still be smoking 20 cigarettes a day and drinking copious amounts of alcohol, but I have chosen better for myself.

If you are suffering from psoriasis, it is important to find out which type you have in order to get the proper treatment. If you were like me, you totally hate the fact that you have psoriasis, but it’s not life threatening, more like life changing. Keep healthy and don’t forget the Omega 3.