What is psoriasis?

4 May 2021

It is a fairly frequent non-contagious chronic condition that affects the skin, causing peeling and reddish spots that mainly appear on the elbows, knees, head, and chest, producing severe itching.

Although in some cases it is permanent and only the symptoms are controlled, in others it can be due to temporary crises and disappear for long periods to reactivate later.

It is considered that this disease arises from some immune system dysfunction caused by genetic and environmental factors that produce accelerated skin regeneration.

Some of the factors that trigger psoriasis include:

Stress crisis.
Strep throat or skin infections.
Active or passive smoking.
Low temperatures and the drop in relative humidity.
Sunburn, wounds, and skin lesions.
Alcoholism.
Some drugs.

The areas affected by psoriasis can be very small or spread widely over various parts of the body.

Signs and symptoms Psoriasis

The most frequent symptoms include:

Dry skin that causes intense burning and itching.
Red spots that peel off easily.
Thickening and grooving of the nails.
Joint numbness and swelling.

Types of psoriasis:

Plaque: it is the most common and appears with reddish spots with scales on top.
Guttata: it usually appears due to bacterial infections in children and adolescents, producing spots with drop-shaped scales on various parts of the body, mainly in arms and legs.
In nails: it alters the physiology causing malformations, color alterations, and abnormal growths.
Inverse: it develops in areas that are not exposed such as buttocks, breasts, and groin.
Pus-filled: produces spots that cover large areas of skin containing pus or in small areas of the palms of the hands and feet.
Erythrodermic: it rarely appears, manifesting as a single reddish spot that spreads throughout the body, causing intense itching and burning.

Psoriasis can affect anyone regardless of age or sex, but heredity, continuous stress, and active or passive smoking are some risk factors.

Possible complications:

Diabetes.
High blood pressure.
Arthritis.
Cardiovascular pathologies.
Autoimmune disorders.
Depression and low self-esteem.
Eye ailments.
Obesity.

Diagnosis and treatment Psoriasis

After reviewing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will perform a thorough dermatological examination and collect a skin biopsy from the affected area.

When the type of psoriasis you suffer from has been identified, the treatment will be established, which seeks to stop the accelerated development of skin cells, suppressing spots and scales through oral or intramuscular drugs, topical creams, and phototherapy.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Psoriasis

Fuentes:

medlineplus.gov
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
cun.es
medigraphic.com
Cárdenas-Hernández ML, Lacy-Niebla RM, Rodríguez-Henríquez P, et al. Cambios ultrasonográficos tempranos de artritis psoriásica en pacientes con psoriasis y psoriasis ungueal. Un estudio comparativo con sujetos sin psoriasis. Dermatología Cosmética, Médica y Quirúrgica. 2021;19(1):90-91.
Borbolla SI, Zertuche DL, Díaz GEJ, et al. Psoriasis e implicaciones cardiovasculares. Acta Med. 2021;19(2):253-257. doi:10.35366/100450.
Luna CE, Flores CAA, Bonilla HR, et al. Abordaje diagnóstico y manejo de psoriasis en atención primaria. Aten Fam. 2021;28(1):54-61.
López PN, Tablada RME, Jacas PAL, et al. Factores de riesgo y comorbilidades en pacientes con psoriasis. MediSan. 2019;23(03):435-446.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

Index

Content

Get from 3 to 9 interest-free installments* with American Express or 6 installments* when paying with Banamex, BBVA, HSBC, Santander or 12 installments*
when paying with Banamex.

Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is psoriasis?

Signs and symptoms Psoriasis

Diagnosis and treatment Psoriasis

Related centers and departments Psoriasis

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Psoriasis