Psoriasis
Psoriasis is one of the most common skin complaints. There are many different types, but it usually appears as clearly defined red patches covered in fine silvery scales. These patches can affect small or large areas of the body, and can be very distressing - not only because they are sore and itchy but also because they can make you feel very self-conscious. Psoriasis is not infectious, and it may be helpful to point this out to anyone who is afraid they might catch it from you. Apart from causing you physical discomfort and loss of self-confidence, psoriasis doesn't actually make you feel unwell.
What Causes Psoriasis ?
Psoriasis is due to a build-up of skin cells that have divided too quickly - in other words, abnormal skin growth. You may remember, that skin develops by means of layers of cells pushing up towards the skin's surface as new ones are made below to replace them. Usually the outer cells are shed so slowly that we barely notice, but in people with psoriasis, new cells are formed about thousand times more quickly than usual due to a disturbance in the body's cell replication control mechanism. Some women find that their psoriasis clears up when they are pregnant or reach menopause, so there may be some hormonal link but this is not yet understood. One research study in Denmark found during post mortems that people with psoriasis had overgrown cells which produce the Human Growth Hormone in their pituitary glands. The researchers therefore proposed that psoriasis could be caused by this. In fact, the reason why psoriasis happens at all is not known but there are many ways in which it can be helped.