Overview

Normally, skin cells develop deeply within the skin and come to the surface once a month or so. When you have psoriasis, the process usually happens in seven to fourteen days. This causes dead skin cells to accumulate on the skin's surface, generating scales. Psoriasis is a skin condition that typically affects the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It produces a rash with itchy, scaly spots. 

Psoriasis is a prevalent, persistent illness that lasts for a long time. In addition to being uncomfortable, it can disrupt sleep and make it difficult to focus. Cycles of flare-ups lasting a few weeks or months, followed by periods of subsidence, are characteristic of the syndrome.

Causes

• Psoriasis is widespread. Although it can affect anyone, it usually starts in people as they age, specifically between the ages of 10 and 35. 

• Psoriasis cannot be transmitted. It is not passed on to other people.

• It appears to be inherited in families. 

The following things might trigger psoriasis,

• Upper respiratory infections 

• Dry skin or dry air, Stress.

• Skin injury, such as a cut bad sunburn, or bug bites

• Upper respiratory infections

• Dry skin or dry air 

• Some medications, such as beta-blockers, lithium, Corticosteroids, and antimalarial drugs 

• Cold, dry weather 

• Tobacco 

• Alcohol (heavy drinking)

Symptoms

Psoriasis plaques can vary in size, from small patches of scaling that resemble dandruff to large-scale outbreaks that engulf whole regions. The kind and intensity of psoriasis determine the disease's symptoms and appearance. 

Here are a few typical indications and symptoms,

• Discoloured spots, that vary in colour, tend to be shades of purple with grayscale on brown or Black skin and pink or red with silver scales on white skin.

• Elevated scale-covered plaques on the skin

• Bleeding, dry, or cracked skin 

• Pain, burning, or itching close to the afflicted areas 

• Thickened or pitted toenails or fingernails 

• Swollen joints 

• Cyclic rashes that flare for a few weeks or months and then subside

Ayurvedic View

Kushta- all the three doshas, namely, vata, pitta, kapha, get aggravated, along with agni mandhya (low digestive fire) due to the following causes like adhyashana (eating food before digestion of previous food), virudha ahara (incompatible food intake), suppression of natural urges, not undergoing purificatory therapy, excess curd intake, aquatic and heavy food intake, etc. These aggravated dosha vitiate, twak (skin), rakta (blood ), mamsa (muscle tissue), ambu (lymph) and lead to pidakas (skin manifestations like boils, rashes, etc), this is psoriasis. Ayurveda's way of approach is to correct agni (metabolism), bring doshas back to prakruta awastha (balance state), reduce the symptoms and heal without manifestation scar marks by ayurvedic panchakarma treatment. Prevent the complication, further aggravation and reoccurrence of this disease by guiding patients in following pathya (healthy) ahara (food) and internal medication.