OverviewComplex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg. CRPS typically develops after an injury, a surgery, a stroke or a heart attack. The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury. Show
CRPS is uncommon, and its cause isn't clearly understood. Treatment is most effective when started early. In such cases, improvement and even remission are possible. SymptomsSigns and symptoms of CRPS include:
Symptoms may change over time and vary from person to person. Pain, swelling, redness, noticeable changes in temperature and hypersensitivity (particularly to cold and touch) usually occur first. Over time, the affected limb can become cold and pale. It may undergo skin and nail changes as well as muscle spasms and tightening. Once these changes occur, the condition is often irreversible. CRPS occasionally may spread from its source to elsewhere in the body, such as the opposite limb. In some people, signs and symptoms of CRPS go away on their own. In others, signs and symptoms may persist for months to years. Treatment is likely to be most effective when started early in the course of the illness. When to see a doctorIf you experience constant, severe pain that affects a limb and makes touching or moving that limb seem intolerable, see your health care provider to determine the cause. It's important to treat CRPS early. CausesThe cause of CRPS isn't completely understood. It's thought to be caused by an injury to or difference in the peripheral and central nervous systems. CRPS typically occurs as a result of a trauma or an injury. CRPS occurs in two types, with similar signs and symptoms, but different causes:
Many cases of CRPS occur after a forceful trauma to an arm or a leg. This can include a crushing injury or a fracture. Other major and minor traumas — such as surgery, heart attacks, infections and even sprained ankles — also can lead to CRPS. It's not well understood why these injuries can trigger CRPS. Not everyone who has such an injury will go on to develop CRPS. It might be due to an interaction between your central and peripheral nervous systems that isn't typical and different inflammatory responses. ComplicationsIf CRPS isn't diagnosed and treated early, the disease may progress to more-disabling signs and symptoms.
PreventionThese steps might help you reduce the risk of developing CRPS:
OverviewPsoriasis causes patches of red, scaly skin. It happens because your body has an overactive immune system.What is psoriasis?Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in your skin. Symptoms of psoriasis include thick areas of discolored skin covered with scales. These thick, scaly areas are called plaques. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition, which means it can flare up unexpectedly and there’s no cure. What are the types of psoriasis?There are several types of psoriasis, including:
What part of my body will psoriasis affect?A psoriasis rash can show up anywhere on your skin. Psoriasis is common on your:
In most people, psoriasis covers a small area of their skin. In severe cases, the plaques connect and cover a large area of your body. What is psoriatic arthritis?Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that causes joint pain and swelling. Similar to psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to function abnormally and cause symptoms. About 1 in 3 people diagnosed with psoriasis will also develop arthritis due to inflammation. Early treatment of psoriatic arthritis can reduce damage to your joints. Who does psoriasis affect and how common is it?People of any age, sex or race can get psoriasis. Psoriasis affects millions of people. More than 3% of the U.S. population has psoriasis. Is psoriasis the same as eczema?Psoriasis and eczema are two different skin conditions. Both conditions cause similar symptoms like discolored skin, a rash and itching. Psoriasis plaques cause areas of thick skin covered in scales. Eczema causes a rash of dry and bumpy skin. Eczema also typically causes more intense itching than psoriasis. Symptoms and CausesWhat does psoriasis look like?Symptoms of psoriasis on your skin include plaques. Plaques look like:
An early sign of psoriasis is small bumps. The bumps grow, and scales form on top. The surface of the plaque might shed, but the scales beneath them will stick together. If you scratch your rash, the scales may tear away from your skin. This can cause bleeding. As the rash continues to grow, lesions (larger areas of skin damage) can form. Symptoms of psoriasis can range from mild to severe. What are the symptoms of psoriasis?In addition to skin plaques or a rash, you might have symptoms that include:
If you scratch your plaque, you could break open your skin, which could lead to an infection. Infections are dangerous. If you experience severe pain, swelling and a fever, you have symptoms of an infection. Contact your healthcare provider if you have these symptoms. What causes psoriasis?An over-reactive immune system that creates inflammation in your skin causes psoriasis. If you have psoriasis, your immune system is supposed to destroy foreign invaders, like bacteria, to keep you healthy and prevent you from getting sick. Instead, your immune system can mistake healthy cells for foreign invaders. As a result, your immune system creates inflammation or swelling, which you see on the surface of your skin as skin plaques. It usually takes up to 30 days for new skin cells to grow and replace old skin cells. Your over-reactive immune system causes the timeline of new skin cell development to change to three to four days. The speed of new cells replacing old cells creates scales and frequent skin shedding on top of skin plaques. Psoriasis runs in families. There may be a genetic component to psoriasis because biological parents may pass the condition down to their children. What causes psoriasis outbreaks?An outbreak of psoriasis, or a flare up, causes symptoms of psoriasis as a result of contact with a trigger, which could be an irritant or an allergen. Psoriasis outbreaks differ from person to person. Common triggers for psoriasis flare ups include:
Is psoriasis contagious?No, psoriasis isn’t contagious. You can’t get psoriasis by coming into contact with another person’s psoriasis skin rash. Diagnosis and TestsHow is psoriasis diagnosed?A healthcare provider or a dermatologist will diagnose psoriasis after a physical exam to look at your skin and review your symptoms. They’ll ask you questions that could include:
The appearance of a skin plaque leads to a psoriasis diagnosis, but symptoms can relate to other similar skin conditions, so your provider might offer a skin biopsy test to confirm your diagnosis. During this test, your provider will remove a small sample of skin tissue from your skin plaque and examine it under a microscope. Management and TreatmentHow is psoriasis treated?Several treatment options can relieve psoriasis symptoms. Common psoriasis treatments include:
Creams or ointments may be enough to improve the rash in small areas of your skin. If your rash affects larger areas, or if you also have joint pain, you’ll need other treatments. Joint pain may be a sign that you have arthritis. Your provider will decide on a treatment plan based on:
What if common psoriasis treatments don’t work?If your symptoms of psoriasis don’t improve after treatment, or if you have large areas of involvement (10% of your skin or more), your healthcare provider may recommend the following treatments:
Before starting treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects and mention any medications or supplements you currently take to avoid drug interaction. Are there any complications of psoriasis?For some people diagnosed with psoriasis, the skin condition causes more than itchiness, scaling skin and skin discoloration. It can lead to swollen joints and arthritis. If you have psoriasis, you may be at higher risk of:
If you have psoriasis, your provider will do regular blood pressure checks and monitor the progress of your treatment to avoid complications. You can take steps to prevent potential complications by:
How soon after treatment will I feel better?A flare-up of psoriasis symptoms can last a couple of weeks to a few months. Your healthcare provider can speed up your skin’s recovery with certain medications. After your symptoms go away, your psoriasis is in remission. This means that you could have another outbreak of symptoms in the future. Your remission timeline could last a few months to a couple of years. If you notice your symptoms flare up when you contact certain triggers, avoiding those triggers leads to a long remission time. PreventionHow can I prevent psoriasis?There isn’t a way to entirely prevent psoriasis. You can reduce your risk by following your healthcare provider’s treatment, living a healthy lifestyle, taking good care of your skin and avoiding triggers that can cause an outbreak of symptoms. Outlook / PrognosisWhat can I expect if I have psoriasis?If you have psoriasis, it’s common to see symptoms show up during early adulthood, but the timeline of when symptoms begin is unique to every person. You may notice certain triggers in your environment that can cause a flare up of symptoms. Avoiding these triggers can lead to fewer outbreaks in the future. Psoriasis can make you uncomfortable, itchy and self-conscious. If these symptoms are causing you physical or emotional distress, contact your healthcare provider for treatment. Is there a cure for psoriasis?There isn’t a cure for psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic condition, which means that symptoms may come and go throughout your life. Treatment can relieve symptoms so you can look and feel your best. Living WithHow do I take care of myself?To feel your best with psoriasis:
Other steps you should take to stay as healthy as possible:
When should I see my healthcare provider?Do regular skin self-exams to notice any changes in your skin. If you have skin changes, a rash that’s not going away or a rash that gets worse, contact your healthcare provider. What questions should I ask my doctor?
A note from Cleveland Clinic Psoriasis, an itchy skin condition, can come and go throughout your life. It’s related to an overactive immune response and isn’t contagious. If you have skin changes that aren’t going away, talk to your healthcare provider. There isn’t a cure for psoriasis, but psoriasis treatments can improve symptoms. Your provider may prescribe a special cream or moisturizer or medications. Other therapies are available if creams or medicines don’t work. Maintaining your overall health will also help improve symptoms. Which condition is observed in a patient who has gingivitis?Bacterial buildup around the teeth is the most common cause of gingivitis. The main symptom of gingivitis is red, puffy gums that may bleed when a person brushes their teeth. Gingivitis often resolves with good oral hygiene, such as longer and more frequent brushing, and regular flossing.
Which condition impairs the healing function of skin?Chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus or peripheral vascular disease can lead to impaired wound healing. Acute trauma such as degloving or large-scale thermal injuries are followed by a loss of skin organ function rendering the organism vulnerable to infections, thermal dysregulation, and fluid loss.
Which part of the tooth weakens with aging causing the patient to be more prone to infection?Because older adults often have receding gums, cavities are more likely to develop at the root of the tooth. Dry mouth also causes bacteria to build up in the mouth more easily, leading to tooth decay. Oral cancer is more common in people older than age 45 and is twice as common in men as in women.
Which condition impairs the healing function of skin quizlet?Which condition impairs the healing function of skin? Diabetes mellitus can impair the healing function of the skin due to chronic vascular changes. A brain injury may impair cognitive functioning.
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