"Patients are thrilled to wear shorts and a T-shirt for the first time in years," says Lakshi Aldredge, R.N., a nurse practitioner in dermatology at the Portland VA Medical Center in Oregon. "They feel like they finally have control of their lives again."
Out-of-Control Skin Cells
Psoriasis typically strikes between ages 15 and 25, and lasts a lifetime.
It's the most common autoimmune disease, affecting up to 7.5 million Americans (more than 2% of the population).
Experts say the disease may be caused by a combination of genetic, immune-related and environmental factors.
In psoriasis patients, the immune system misfires, causing skin cells to multiply faster than normal, maturing in just three or four days, rather than the usual 28-30 days.
Rather than sloughing off the body, the skin cells pile up, forming scaly plaques that may itch and burn. Making matters worse, blood vessels also can expand and multiply in the affected areas, triggering bleeding. Scratching may increase bleeding and raise risk of infection.
Just living with psoriasis can be difficult – even devastating. Patients are often stared at, accused of bad grooming, and sometimes even turned away from restaurants and hair salons.
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