What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis

It is easy to assume that psoriasis is merely a “skin condition.” However, psoriasis actually begins underneath the skin. It is a long-lasting (chronic) condition of the immune system that ranges from mild to severe.

Similar to other chronic diseases, psoriasis may also be associated with other medical conditions including Type 2 diabetes, psoriatic arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides treatments for psoriasis to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations.

How does Psoriasis Occur?

Psoriasis symptoms may appear on the skin’s surface. However, this is only one part of the story. In normal conditions, the body takes around 28 to 30 days to generate new skin cells shedding the old ones.

In case of plaque psoriasis, the immune system is overactive prompting skin swelling which leads to the faster production of skin cells than normal. Instead of the normal 28 to 30 days, new skin cells are pushed to the surface of the skin in only three to four days.

However, the body cannot shed new skin cells at that rapid rate. This causes the old, dead skin cells to accumulate on top of each other while new skin cells are being generated.

With the rapid production of new skin cells, the old cells are pushed to the skin’s surface. This leads to the formation of itchy, red, thick and flaky patches called plaques.

The exact cause of psoriasis is not yet known.

Psoriasis Types

Psoriasis is often mistakenly thought of as a single skin disease. But there are various forms of psoriasis although a patient will usually have only one type at a time.

Every type of psoriasis has different attributes and symptoms and may appear on the skin in various ways.

It is crucial to understand and share with others that despite where psoriasis occurs on the body or what it looks like, it is not a contagious condition.

Plaque Psoriasis

This form of psoriasis involves elevated, swollen, red lesions that are covered by silvery white scales. Plaque psoriasis usually occurs on the knees, elbows, scalp, and lower back. This is the most commonly occurring form of psoriasis, and 80 percent of psoriasis patients have this type.

Guttate Psoriasis

This type of psoriasis often begins in childhood or young adulthood. It occurs as tiny, pink, individual spots on the skin of the arms, legs, and torso. These spots are not typically as thick as those in plaque psoriasis.

Inverse Psoriasis

These lesions are located in the groin, in the armpits, beneath the breasts and in other skin folds around the genital and buttock area. Inverse psoriasis looks like bright-red lesions that are shiny and smooth.

Pustular Psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis occurs mainly in adults, and its distinguishing characteristic is blisters of noninfectious pus which are surrounded by red skin. It could be localized to specific body parts such as the feet and hands, or cover a large part of the body.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis is an especially inflammatory type of psoriasis that impacts most of the surface of the body. Its characteristics are periodic, extensive, fiery skin redness, and the shedding of scales in sheets.

Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and nearby areas for psoriasis treatments.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

What Causes Warts?

Warts

The sudden appearance of warts makes these harmless growths seem like they came out of nowhere. But it is important to understand the causes behind the occurrence of warts. Patients should consult with an experienced skin specialist if they are concerned about the appearance of warts.

Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides treatments for warts to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations in this area of the Midwest.

HPV Viral Infection

Common warts occur due to an infection in the top skin layer due to viruses in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. Upon invading the skin’s outer layer, typically through a small scratch, it causes a rapid proliferation of cells on the skin’s outer layer producing the wart.

Experts explain that HPV is pervasive. Every person comes in contact with it in the course of their lives such as when turning doorknobs, shaking hands, or typing on keyboards.

Scientists have located over 100 different forms of the virus. A majority of people will have at least one common wart at some point in their lifetime, typically on their hands.

Some types of the virus cause skin warts on the hands while other lead to the development of genital warts. Certain strains of the virus can lead to both.

How do people get common warts?

In case a person develops any type of skin wart, it indicates that they came in contact with a wart-causing virus at some point in the past. This could even have happened many months earlier.

Experts indicate that while people can get infected with warts from other people, they cannot get warts from toads and frogs. People most commonly get warts due to direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has warts, such as a handshake with a person with warts on their hand.

The virus can be transmitted from inanimate objects as well, for instance, a towel that has been used by an individual with a wart.

These viruses are more likely to lead to the development of warts if they come in contact with a cut or damaged skin. A tiny cut or bitten fingernail could cause a wart if it comes in contact with a wart-causing virus.

Furthermore, nicks and cuts from shaving could also become an entryway for these viruses. This is the reason why men have warts in the beard are while women usually have them on the legs.

Why do some people get a lot of warts while others do not?

Every person comes across viruses that cause warts. Then why do some people develop skin warts while others don’t? Doctors are not sure about the exact reason for this occurrence. However, they believe that the immune system in some people is more capable of fighting off such viruses preventing wart development.

For instance, kids get skin warts much more frequently than adults. This most likely happens as their immune systems are not yet robust enough to ward off the multiple strains of HPV that they will encounter throughout their lifetimes.

Furthermore, the genetic build and immune systems of some people make them more vulnerable to viruses that cause warts, just like some individuals are more susceptible to poison ivy.

Warts are also common in many siblings in the same family. Children of people who developed skin warts as kids are often at risk for skin warts themselves. Judicious board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other cities and towns in this section of the country for warts treatments.

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

What Causes Skin Tags?

Skin Tags

Skin tags are a common skin problem with nearly 25 percent people developing skin tags which usually form after the age of 50. Skin tags frequently occur in individuals with diabetes or those who are obese or overweight.

In people who are overweight, the skin tends to undergo repetitive friction which causes the development of skin tags. This is why skin tags usually develop in folds of the body. Some factors which lead to skin tag development are repetitive friction and wearing tight clothing, especially in overweight individuals.

Therefore, people who are overweight should ideally avoid tight clothing to prevent the development of skin tags. Prudent board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin care treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations in this region of the nation.

Nature of Skin Tags

Skin tags refer to nonmalignant skin tumors. They comprise a center of ducts and fibers, fat cells, nerve cells, as well as a covering or epidermis.

Common areas for the development of skin tags are as follows:

upper chest
armpits
eyelids
beneath the breasts
groin
neck (in the case of papilloma colli)

Skin tags are often inconspicuous unless they are placed in a prominent area or undergo repetitive rubbing or scratching. This could occur due to clothing, jewelry or while shaving.

Some people with skin tags may never even notice them. Skin tags may also rub or fall off in a painless manner in some cases. Substantial skin tags may burst under pressure. The skin tag could have a smooth or uneven surface. Usually, they are elevated from the skin’s surface of fleshy peduncles or stalks. Skin tags are typically slightly brownish or skin-colored.

When skin tags develop, they are initially small and flattened like a pinhead bump. While some tags remain small, other may become bigger. They are sized between two millimeters (mm) and one centimeter (cm) in diameter and can grow as big as 5 cm.

Causes

The exact cause of skin tags is unclear. However, they may develop when collagen and blood vessel clusters are trapped within dense fragments of skin.

Since they commonly occur in the folds and creases of the skin, they may occur due to the friction caused by skin rubbing against skin. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to the development of skin tags.

Skin tags occur in men as well as women. However, they develop more frequently during pregnancy, in overweight people, and diabetes patients. There seems to be some association between skin tags and hyperinsulinemia (a condition where there is excessive insulin in the blood).

Risk Factors Associated with Skin Tags

Skin tags are more commonly seen in the following:

Obese and overweight people
Diabetes patients
Pregnant women, possibly because of hormonal fluctuations and high levels of growth factors
People with some forms of human papillomavirus (HPV)
Individuals with a sex-steroid imbalance, particularly if there are changes in the estrogen and progesterone levels
People with close relatives who also have skin tags

Focused board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other communities and neighborhoods in this part of the US for skin care treatments.

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

What is Psoriasis?

Monthly Archives: September 2018