Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Psoriasis Basics - Quality of Life With Psoriasis

Psoriasis Basics - Quality of Life With Psoriasis
Though neither contagious nor a threat to life, Psoriasis
is a chronic skin disorder that flares and remits
throughout the life span of its victim. The inflammatory
skin condition is triggered off by faulty signals in the
immune system. Psoriasis occurs when some of the white
blood cells cause the body to fight the normal skin-tissue
(and sometimes the joints). Most common symptoms of
Psoriasis encompass patches of raised, reddish skin covered
by silvery-white scale, as well as, burning sensation,
irritation, inflammation, itching and bleeding. In severe
cases, the itching and discomfort may keep a person awake
at night, and the pain can make everyday tasks difficult.
The inflammation is caused by the abnormal discharge of
"healing" chemicals by the white blood cells. The red and
flaky patches mostly appear on scalp, elbows, knees, and
lower back.

Psoriasis is not taken as a serious ailment as it is not
life threatening to the victim. Nevertheless, being
inflicted with Psoriasis has extremely serious
repercussions on the patient's quality of life.

To begin with, Psoriasis is a chronic disease. This means
that it is a lifelong condition because currently there is
no cure. Under the circumstances, a patient of Psoriasis
struggles helplessly all his life without any respite.
According to a study, the patients of Psoriasis considered
the general appearance of their skin to be the worst part
of having the disease. Another study revealed that the
patients found itching and scaling especially agonizing..
No doubt, the patients of Psoriasis are therefore seen
depressed, angry and irritated both during flares and
remissions. The incessant itching, scaling, irritation and
inflammation keeps them arrested in negativity and
disinterest.

Apart from the piercing physical pain and irritation,
patients of the skin disorder undergo an emotional trauma
on daily basis. They become reclusive as they experience
low self-esteem and lack of confidence. They feel dejected,
as the response from the society is disdainful. So much so
that many patients, especially men take up heavy smoking
and intake of alcohol, to relieve themselves from the
emotional torture. However, experts relate smoking and
drinking to be one of the possible reasons for the onset of
this skin disease.

The society fails to realize the pain behind the dejected
faces, going through an ugly experience. Most of the people
who meet them look down upon their miserable physical
appearance without empathy. The feeling of social rejection
keeps strengthening within the victim.. A study reveals
that most of the patients of Psoriasis experienced stress
due to reaction of others to their sorry physical state. It
has also been observed that most of the people suffering
from Psoriasis suffer from sexual recession because of the
painful realization of their physical symptoms.

In a nutshell, the irritating skin condition called
Psoriasis brings down the quality of life of its patients
considerably. They are deprived of their social, emotional
and physical well-being and robbed off their rightful
happiness.


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To learn more about psoriasis come join us at
http://www.psoriasistoday.com where you can find more
information on the disease. Also check out the skin care
information source at http://www.healthtm.com/skin_care/

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