Psoriasis Page

Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, noncontagious skin disorder that appears in many different forms and can affect any part of the body, including the nails and scalp. Psoriasis is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the percentage of body surface involved and the impact on the sufferer's quality of life.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Scalp Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis occurs in at least half of all people with psoriasis. It can range from very mild with fine scaling to very severe with thick, crusted plaques. Scalp psoriasis may appear as lesions that extend from the hairline onto the forehead and the nape of the neck. It is common for the psoriasis to appear behind the ears. Scalp psoriasis usually accompanies plaques in other areas of the body. Scalp psoriasis scales appear powdery with a silvery sheen. Possible causes of scalp psoriasis include: scalp treatments and severe psoriasis can both cause temporary hair loss; itching, picking and scratching lesions can worsen the psoriasis by causing a Koebner phenomenon (psoriasis appearing on the site of skin injuries).

Friday, June 16, 2006

Gene Causing Psoriasis Identified

A new gene associated with a variant of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis has been identified by a research group led by Dr. Ohad Birk at the Morris Kahn Laboratory of Human Genetics at Ben Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center. The gene discovered by the Israeli researchers is of much interest as it allows the first major molecular insight into why the specific skin cells proliferate excessively, causing these two common skin diseases. Psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis affect 2-3% of the population worldwide and 85% of AIDS patients. Both skin diseases are caused by excessive proliferation of specific cells (keratinocytes) in the skin. To date, there is only very limited understanding as to the molecular mechanisms causing these two common disorders. The two-and-a-half-year study examined an Israeli Moroccan Jewish family with 44 members over five generations who showed signs characteristic of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. By using advanced techniques to analyze DNA samples of the affected members of the family and comparing them to normal, unmutated DNA, Ramon Birnbaum, a doctoral student at Birk's laboratory, has succeeded in pinning the beginning of the molecular pathway on a mutation in a gene that is normally expressed, or "turned on" in the keratinocytes. The gene is believed to suppress or regulate cell proliferation and is thought to be a transcription factor, meaning that it switches on other genes, which may also play a role in the disease. When mutated, this regulation malfunctions, enabling excessive proliferation of skin cells and calling in cells of the immune system. The findings, to be reported in this month's issue of Nature Genetics, allow new insights into the mechanism of disease in psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. In turn, these insights are likely to assist pharmaceutical companies in developing "smart drugs" for these two common skin diseases.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

What Is Guttate Psoriasis?

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small red dots (or drops) of psoriasis. Guttate is derived from the Latin word gutta meaning "drop." It often appears on the trunk, arms and legs. The guttate rash may have some scale. Guttate psoriasis is many small patches of psoriasis, all over the body, and often happens after a throat infection. Guttate Psoriasis most often affects children and young adults. It appears as small, red bumps-the size of drops of water-on the skin. It usually appears suddenly, often several weeks after an infection such as strep throat.