A skin condition in which the skin cell grows very quickly because of flawed signals in the body's immune system is a disease called psoriasis. In this situation, the cells pile up on the skin surface because the excess skin cells are not shed, and can cause painful lesions. This is a highly common immune mediated disease that affects people in many countries worldwide. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than seven million people are affected and new cases are diagnosed every year.
This disease can only occur to a person when his immune system seems to send the wrong signals and this triggers a reaction in the skin cells believing that pathogens and other unwanted invaders are present. The immune system attacks normal cells, believing that these cells contain some type of harmful bacteria or perhaps a virus, when there is actually nothing wrong. The result is then over production of skin cells happening in the elbows and knees and even observed to happen in the feet as well as the scalp. The T cells in our body are the white blood cell that fights the infections and disease, and these are the cells that are not working properly and cause psoriasis to occur.
Pustular and nonpustular psoriasis are the two types of psoriasis commonly observed. The rare type of psoriasis that covers the entire body of the person is called GPP or generalized pustular psoriasis and this is one of the two types. Painful blisters that are filled with pus form on the skin and rather than the plaque or excess cells commonly seen, and this is observed in persons having this rare disease type. This is rarely seen in children but can happen at any age. The more common type of psoriasis is the nonpustular type, and that appears like dry red patches on the skin.
Psoriasis can be chronic and flare ups in the skin can occur at any time because of its unpredictable nature. When flare ups occur, severe itching and pain can be felt. There can also be cracking and bleeding on the skin, which can be a cause of irritation. There is also drug-induced psoriasis, with several drugs described as those that can initiate or aggravate the disease. Understanding the patho-physiology of these drugs can help in the treatment and management of the drug-induced psoriasis disease.
Lesions seen can vary in appearance and this depends on the type of psoriasis that is occurring. General symptoms observed are patches of scaly skin building up usually in scalp, feet, elbows and knees; this is what is known as plaque. Plaque buildup can occur in any part of the skin, not just the aforementioned areas, as well as affecting the color and strength of fingernails and toenails.
Treatment can help in combating this skin disorder, although there is no known cure for this yet. Preventing the disease from progressing can be the goal and this can be done when visiting a dermatologist. Phototherapy is sometimes used as well as the application of topical treatments. One drug used for treatment was made from recombinant humanized monoclonal antibodies, and this drug is Efalizumab. Suppressing the immune response incorrectly happening can be how this drug type works. These types of immunomodulating drugs were developed by scientists who used custom monoclonal antibodies for research and production.
This disease can only occur to a person when his immune system seems to send the wrong signals and this triggers a reaction in the skin cells believing that pathogens and other unwanted invaders are present. The immune system attacks normal cells, believing that these cells contain some type of harmful bacteria or perhaps a virus, when there is actually nothing wrong. The result is then over production of skin cells happening in the elbows and knees and even observed to happen in the feet as well as the scalp. The T cells in our body are the white blood cell that fights the infections and disease, and these are the cells that are not working properly and cause psoriasis to occur.
Pustular and nonpustular psoriasis are the two types of psoriasis commonly observed. The rare type of psoriasis that covers the entire body of the person is called GPP or generalized pustular psoriasis and this is one of the two types. Painful blisters that are filled with pus form on the skin and rather than the plaque or excess cells commonly seen, and this is observed in persons having this rare disease type. This is rarely seen in children but can happen at any age. The more common type of psoriasis is the nonpustular type, and that appears like dry red patches on the skin.
Psoriasis can be chronic and flare ups in the skin can occur at any time because of its unpredictable nature. When flare ups occur, severe itching and pain can be felt. There can also be cracking and bleeding on the skin, which can be a cause of irritation. There is also drug-induced psoriasis, with several drugs described as those that can initiate or aggravate the disease. Understanding the patho-physiology of these drugs can help in the treatment and management of the drug-induced psoriasis disease.
Lesions seen can vary in appearance and this depends on the type of psoriasis that is occurring. General symptoms observed are patches of scaly skin building up usually in scalp, feet, elbows and knees; this is what is known as plaque. Plaque buildup can occur in any part of the skin, not just the aforementioned areas, as well as affecting the color and strength of fingernails and toenails.
Treatment can help in combating this skin disorder, although there is no known cure for this yet. Preventing the disease from progressing can be the goal and this can be done when visiting a dermatologist. Phototherapy is sometimes used as well as the application of topical treatments. One drug used for treatment was made from recombinant humanized monoclonal antibodies, and this drug is Efalizumab. Suppressing the immune response incorrectly happening can be how this drug type works. These types of immunomodulating drugs were developed by scientists who used custom monoclonal antibodies for research and production.
About the Author:
Armand Zeiders loves writing about biomedical research. For more information about custom monoclonal antibody production, please go to the PrimmBiotech.com site today.
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