How does psoriasis affect the immune system?

This is an automatically translated article.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease, in addition to skin manifestations such as redness, scaling, pus-filled skin.... the patient also feels extremely uncomfortable, itchy, unsightly, even Many patients even feel self-deprecating and isolated when discriminated against by others. The disease is difficult to treat. If the patient does not have a timely method to control and treat the disease, people with psoriasis are easy to relapse many times

1. What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is often referred to as a "T-cell mediated disease". T cells are a type of immune system cell (white blood cell) that has been shown to play a very important role in the medical process of psoriasis. T cells naturally circulate throughout the body in search of foreign substances. These foreign substances, called antigens, are usually foreign invaders such as bacteria or viruses, which activate T cells, which then initiate an immune response to neutralize the antigen.
For psoriasis, T cells are the ultimate activated factor in the skin. Why this happens is still unknown, but it may be directly related to heredity in people with psoriasis.
If T cells are left untouched, the immune response and cycle of psoriasis never takes place. If T cells are activated, the body's immune response begins to take place leading to the development of skin lesions. Part of this reaction includes the production of Cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that the immune system uses to communicate information. In patients with psoriasis, cytokines tell skin cells to be produced and mature at a rapid rate.
The end result is a cycle of skin cells growing too fast, speeding up skin cell production on the body. These cells quickly move to the surface of the skin and pile up to form milky whites, also known as dead skin. The top layer, or epidermis, of the skin thickens, blood vessels expand and multiply, and blood flow to the skin increases. The immune system attacks healthy cells. You will get psoriasis when the skin does not have a balance between the production of cells and the destruction of new cells.
According to statistics, currently the number of psoriasis patients in Vietnam accounts for 5-7% of those with dermatological diseases. The number of people infected with the disease will have different rates depending on living conditions and different regions. Psoriasis often develops in episodes. Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis, but patients can control this disease with diet and daily activities.
Everyone can be at risk for psoriasis. However, the most common age of onset is between 20 and 50 years old, and children are less than 10 years old. Psoriasis is not contagious, not life-threatening, but it is very uncomfortable and difficult to treat completely.

2. Symptoms of Psoriasis

People with psoriasis often feel very itchy, extremely uncomfortable, scaly skin ... This condition can appear on any area of ​​the body, but usually occurs on the knees, elbows, hands, feet, scalp, back or navel.
You can also get pitted fingernails and toenails. This only happens to about half of people with psoriasis. About 30% of patients with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness.
The impact of psoriasis on each patient will be different depending on the health of each subject. Symptoms of the disease in one person may be more severe than in another. Perhaps because this is a matter of the individual's immune system. Psoriasis is linked to genetic factors.
Psoriasis symptoms will change over time. Sometimes, the disease appears with mild symptoms, affecting the patient, sometimes these symptoms become extremely severe. Several factors, such as dry weather or stress, can trigger flare-ups.

3. Is psoriasis dangerous?

Psoriasis although rarely dangerous to the patient. However, if the condition becomes severe, it can put the person at risk. You should see a specialist if your psoriasis covers most of your body or if you have signs of an infection, such as a high fever.

4. How does psoriasis affect the immune system?

If you have psoriasis, a type of white blood cell, the B cell, makes antibodies that destroy normal skin cells. Meanwhile, another type of cell, T cells, makes too many proteins called cytokines. This affects the growth of skin cells. Normally, skin cells last about a month, after which they die, slough off, and are replaced by new cells. If you have psoriasis, this cell change occurs in days instead of weeks. Layers of skin build up and more blood flows to the area, resulting in redness and swelling.
Normally, the immune system works to protect the body against attackers by destroying bacteria, viruses and other foreign proteins. For people with psoriasis, the immune system doesn't work properly and causes inflammation and the rapid production of skin cells.
The goal of treatment is to stop or change the body's response by targeting very specific immune cells, thus avoiding widespread effects on the rest of the body.
For example, methotrexate (a prescription systemic medication used to treat psoriasis) binds to an enzyme involved in the rapid growth of cells triggered by the immune system's response. psoriasis patients. But methotrexate also affects other systems in the body. New drugs, called biologics, have been studied to target very specific stages of the immune system response.

5. Diagnosis of Psoriasis

To diagnose psoriasis, a specialist will usually examine your skin condition. However, psoriasis can look like eczema and other skin conditions. Therefore, the diagnosis of psoriasis is still difficult.
If you're not sure if you have psoriasis, your doctor may recommend a biopsy. Your doctor will remove a small sample of your skin and look at it under a microscope. If you develop symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, such as joint swelling and pain, your doctor may order blood tests and X-rays to rule out other forms of arthritis.

6. How to Control Psoriasis

The more you know about your condition, the better you will be able to manage the effects of psoriasis. Here are a few ways to keep your psoriasis under control.
Regular check-ups You need to try so that psoriasis does not affect your life, work as well as your self-confidence. You can absolutely do anything that other people can do. If you're not feeling well, you should talk to your doctor for advice.
You need to be regularly examined by a specialist and receive support from family and friends.
When you have psoriasis, it's important to follow your doctor's advice. But there's a lot you can do on your own to help control and prevent flare-ups.
Keep your skin moisturized Symptoms of the disease are worse when your skin is dry, so keep your skin moist by using a lotion. People with oily skin are less likely to be affected because oily skin works better at holding moisture underneath the skin. To help remove the scab, you'll need to apply a lotion first, then cover the area with plastic wrap or other waterproof material. Leave it on for a few hours, then wash your face.
You need to be careful with your skin. Do not rub vigorously at the scaly areas as this can make the psoriasis worse. Also, be careful when trimming your nails, if you cut yourself, this can also make the signs of the disease worse. For patients with psoriasis on the scalp, it is recommended to use shampoos containing coal tar ingredients or use coal tar solution to bathe, which also helps control itching, scaling...
Side In addition, climate has a great influence on people with psoriasis. In some cases, cold, dry weather makes symptoms worse. The impact of the disease lessens in hot weather, but not always.
The most important thing you need to keep in mind is to keep your skin moist. Turn on the humidifier when the weather is dry.

Medication Precautions Some medications that you take also make psoriasis worse include:
Lithium: Used to treat mental disorders. Propranolol and possibly other beta-blockers, prescribed for patients with heart disease Quinidine (Cardioquin or Quinidex): Heart arrhythmias If you take any of these medicines, consult your doctor. Consult your doctor if it can be changed by using another medicine.
Avoiding bumps and trauma to the skin One of the most important things for people with psoriasis is to avoid bumps and trauma to the skin. Damage to the skin can cause Koebner phenomenon. Infected skin is also the cause of this phenomenon, especially when you shave, need to be very careful. Avoid acupuncture, tattooing, and try not to get bitten by insects.
Avoid anxiety, stress Experts say there is a link between psoriasis and stress. So try to keep your mind at ease. That can be hard to do, but you can try relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga, for starters.
Don't use alcohol Some people think that alcohol can make the symptoms of psoriasis worse, especially in men. Alcohol can be dangerous if you're taking certain psoriasis medications, so consult with your doctor.
Healthy diet Experts recommend that people with psoriasis eat a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables. Some people say their symptoms improve when they eliminate dairy or gluten from their daily diet. Exercise can also help. Some research shows that excess body weight can be a factor in making the disease worse, so keep it at a healthy level.
Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern facilities, medical equipment and a team of experts and doctors with many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, patients can rest assured to visit. examination and treatment at the Hospital.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference sources: webmd.com, psoriasis.org

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