What is psoriasis?
Jerri Johnson: Well, psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects about 2% of the population. It's variable in its presentation. It can affect just small areas of the body, and it can affect the entire skin surface. So it's extremely variable and how it presents. Age could be anywhere from birth to elderly. So it affects any age group as well.
What causes psoriasis?
Jerri Johnson: Well, it is a genetic disease. We know this because we see an increased incidence in relatives with psoriasis and twins, identical twins have a very high incidence of them both having it. So we know it's genetic. There is an association on certain chromosomes, but exactly what causes it is still being studied. We know that it has a lot to so with the activation of T-cells and the inflammatory mediators that comes from that.
Does stress impact psoriasis?
Jerri Johnson: There is environmental factors' influencing psoriasis. So if a patient is under stress, any anti-stress is going to help.
Does it affect people in certain age groups more than others?
Jerri Johnson: There is a spike in the incidence in the 20s and then again in the 50s, but you can still have it from birth to death.
Is there connection between psoriasis and arthritis?
Jerri Johnson: There is an increased risk of arthritis in patients with psoriasis. About 10% of patients with psoriasis have arthritis. It can involve their hands, their hips, their back, mini-joints can be involved.
Is psoriasis painful?
Jerri Johnson: It's not usually that painful. It maybe a little bit itchy. It's really more just annoying and I just bet it, doesn't look very good. The patient has scaling and redness and it's more that you're self-conscious about it than anything.
How does psoriasis impact a patient's personal life?
Jerri Johnson: When people see these illusions, they think you might be contagious. It would affect you're working and especially if you're working around food or when people see you in the public and think you might have some contagious disease. It affects people's relationships with others, definitely.
Since psoriasis isn't contagious, why is it a serious problem?
Jerri Johnson: Well, it is a big deal. They are losing cells and losing skins. So they can actually, if it covers a large part of their body, they can actually lose fluid and protein and it is going to affect their calcium level, so in extreme circumstances, if it affects their body generally psoriasis, they sometimes have to even be hospitalized. So it isn't just cosmetic.
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