- The disease causes social rejection.
- Although there is no cure yet, patients can keep their skin healthy.
Dominican Republic, October 2018. Psoriasis is an auto-inflammatory disease that manifests itself chronically in the skin; It causes itching, can be painful and is revealed through patches of red and flaky skin. But it not only affects the skin; Several studies have shown that people with psoriasis can see their quality of life affected because 75% feel unattractive, 54% feel depressed, 31% have financial difficulties and 8% work from home.
In patients with psoriasis, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, causing the cell renewal process to occur within a few days when this process normally lasts between 28 and 30 days. This causes dead cells instead of falling, to accumulate on the surface and form psoriatic lesions.
The severity of psoriasis is related to the physical and emotional impact that the disease has on each person; its severity varies from one person to another according to the impact that the disease has on the self-esteem, behaviors, and experiences of those who suffer from it.
According to the World Health Organization, these people have the highest rates of depression and anxiety.
Data
This condition can develop at any age, but often appears for the first time between 15 and 30 years and occurs in both men and women. According to data from the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations, this disease affects more than 125 million people in the world and often causes social rejection because of the striking aspect of injuries.
Despite being a disease that has no cure and the difficulties associated with the visibility of the lesions that appear in places such as elbows, knees, and scalp, patients can have healthy skin using appropriate medication.
According to Novartis Medical Manager, Dr. Yendry Rojas, “psoriasis is not a viral or contagious disease, the lesions it presents are not infectious, they are not transmitted from one person to another, even if you have contact with a person who has very visible injuries.
Currently, those who suffer from it have therapeutic options that allow them to have healthy skin in a short time, and in a lasting way ”.
Causes and diagnosis
There is no apparent reason why lesions develop. However, in some people, they can be aggravated by factors such as infections, stress, medications, smoking, alcohol intake, sun exposure, and hormonal changes.
To define the diagnosis, the dermatologist usually examines the affected skin and determines if it is psoriasis.
For patients with psoriasis, one of the biggest concerns is maintaining healthy skin. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the prescribed treatment and:
- Maintain a balanced diet.
- Include in the diet vitamin D; fatty fish or eggs, Omega-3; Salmon and nuts.
- Do sport.
- Avoid the consumption of alcoholic drinks.
- Wear loose clothing and natural fabrics such as cotton or silk to minimize irritation.
- Avoid smoking
About Novartis
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Novartis products reach almost one billion people worldwide, and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. Around 125,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work in Novartis worldwide.
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