title: Psoriasis: characteristics, psychosocial effects and treatment options.
abstract: Psoriasis is a complex chronic non-infectious inflammatory skin disease with many different presentations. The classic presentation is of well-defined red plaques with silver scale. The characteristic scale makes the disorder highly visible and intrusive on the patient's lifestyle. The visible nature of the disease ensures that psoriasis has both physical and psychosocial effects. In normal skin, epidermal cell reproduction and proliferation takes 28 days. In psoriasis, this process is considerably accelerated to approximately four days, resulting in the deposit of immature cells on the skin. While the exact cause of this process is unknown, certain environmental and genetic factors are known to be provoking factors. Disease management will be dependent on disease severity, psychosocial effects and the patient's lifestyle. To effectively treat this disease the nurse must be skilled in psoriasis management, and in patient education and motivation. This article reviews the characteristics, aetiology, psychosocial effects and treatment strategies of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000875:Anthralin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008019:Life Style; D020412:Multifactorial Inheritance; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010789:Phototherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004643:Emollients; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D014807:Vitamin D; D003033:Coal Tar; D000875:Anthralin