Is Nausea & Vomiting Symptoms of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a disease that shortens the life of skin cells from one month to only a few days, causing them to build up on top of one another and form itchy, scale-like patches. These patches may be painful, and depending on the specific type of psoriasis may form on different areas across the body. It is a chronic condition, which means it goes through periods of activity and dormancy but never fully goes away. Outbreaks may last from one day to several weeks, and are usually instigated by emotional or physical stress. Serious outbreaks can be physically disabling and visually disturbing.

Several common symptoms are shared across the eight unique types of psoriasis, including scaly patches that are generally red or silver in color, dry skin that is prone to cracking and bleeding, skin that is itchy or has a burning sensation and soreness at outbreak spots. Psorasis is also associated with arthritis, and it is common for sufferers to experience stiffness in joints around the outbreak spots, swollen joints or sore joints. Knees and elbows are particularly vulnerable.

However, the eight specific types of psoriasis also have their own distinctive symptoms. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type and is known for its characteristic red scales that can appear around the body's soft tissue, such as the inside of the mouth, behind the ears, and around the reproductive glands. Scalp psoriasis produces large flakes of dead skin in the head and on the shoulders, similar to dandruff, while nail psoriasis causes nails to be loose and fall off. Inverse psoriasis tends to affect obese individuals and produces smooth patches of itchy skin. Guttate psoriasis is linked to bacterial infections and produces small circular sores on the individuals arms, legs, torso and back. Erythrodermic psoriasis is a very rare condition that produces an entire body rash that burns and itches, while psoriatic arthritis is defined by its partnership with eye problems like conjunctivitis. Pustular psoriasis tends to afflict the hands and feet and is characterized by symptoms of blisters filled with pus, fever,and weight loss.

While psoriasis only affects the skin of an individual, the emotional strain and anxiety it causes can become symptoms that are just as severe or more severe than the physical symptoms. During periods of outbreaks, affected skin can appear deformed and very visually off-putting, causing social and relationship strain among sufferers. After one or two moderate to severe outbreaks, many individuals become depressed, ashamed and embarrassed about their condition. However, the emotional stress felt about outbreaks is often enough to trigger them, leaving sufferers in an emotionally perpetuated cycle of angst.

For mild to moderate cases of psoriasis, topical applications such as cortisone cream, vitamin D derivative, coal tar and moisturizers is enough to manage symptoms, decrease physical discomfort and quickly heal visual marks of the condition. However, some cases require additional treatments such as light therapy, laser therapy or oral steroids.