2 short replies

Lisandra Psoriasis Understanding the exact underlying cause of psoriasis is still a work in progress. Initially psoriasis was thought to be just an autoimmune disease however more recently scientists are not so sure. The cause of psoriasis has also been attributed to genetics. In terms of it being an autoimmune disease, the white blood cells or T cells attack skin cells causing the skin cells to multiply a lot faster than normal. This excess amount of skin buildup causes red patches overlapped by white scales and is usually on the lower back, knees, elbow, and scalp. When it comes to genetics, you are more likely to develop psoriasis if an immediate family member has the condition. There are few triggers for psoriasis including stress, illness like strep infections, certain medications (lithium, high blood pressure, antimalarial), and injury to the skin. “According to one study, around 7.4 million Americans have psoriasis. It’s commonly associated with several other conditions, including type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, psoriatic arthritis, anxiety, and depression” (Holland, 2018). Signs and symptoms other than the visible patches range from soreness around the patches, dry skin that may crack and bleed, and, itching and burning sensation around the patches. “The condition may cause severe symptoms for a few days or weeks, and then the symptoms may clear up and be almost unnoticeable” (Holland, 2018). Unfortunately, there is no cure for this skin disease as it has been deemed a chronic long-term disease. With that being said it is important to recognize signs and symptoms to start treatment immediately. Treatments for psoriasis range from topical treatments such as salicylic acid, moisturizers, and topical corticosteroids. Other treatments that suppress the immune system such as methotrexate and cyclosporine have been successful as well. Malignant Breast Cancer, Fibroadenoma, Fibrocystic Breast Disease One way of early detection in terms of breast cancer includes mammograms and self-examination. While mammograms have to be scheduled, self-examinations can be done at any time in the comfort of your own home. When conducting this type of exam the hope is that you will never incur a lump or something that feels unusual. In the event that a lump is found it can be extremely alarming, however breast cancer should not always be the immediate assumption. There are other conditions such as fibroadenomas, fibrocystic breast disease. Breast cancer or malignant breast tumors occur when certain cells in the breast become malignant and form a tumor. Breast tumors generally appear in the lobules or in the milk ducts that lead to the nipple. There are various ways to diagnose malignant breast tumors such as biopsies, ultrasound, exam by a physician, and excision of the lump. Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. Unfortunately beast cancer van spread to your blood and lymph nodes which can cause it to metastasize or spread to other organs making it difficult to treat and in some cases lead to death. Fibroadenomas are solid, noncancerous breast lumps that occur most often in women between the ages of 15 and 35. The exact cause is still unknown however occurrence has been narrowed down to during your reproductive years, can become bigger during pregnancy or with use of hormone therapy. Fibroadenomas usually do not require any treatment however you can opt to have it removed via surgery. "Last is fibrocystic breast disease which is a benign (noncancerous) condition in which the breasts feel lumpy" (Cafasso, 2018). Changes

in breast tissue happens in response to hormonal changes in the ovaries causing these lumps to appear. Fibrocystic breasts aren’t harmful or dangerous, but may be bothersome or uncomfortable for some women. In conconclusion the most important thing to do when experiencing changes or noticing something abnormal is to make an appointment with your primary care physician. From ther a diagnosis and treament plan can be formulated for your health benefit. References Articles. (n.d.). Cedars-Sinai.Org. Retrieved September 1, 2020, from https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/b/breast-cancer.html (Links to an external site.) Fibroadenoma - Symptoms and causes. (2020, May 7). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibroadenoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20352752 #:%7E:text=Fibroadenomas%20(fy%2Dbroe%2Dad,has%20a%20well%2Ddefined%20shape (Links to an external site.). Cafasso, J. (2018b, April 23). Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/fibrocystic-breast-disease#causes (Links to an external site.) Holland, K. (2018, February 18). Everything You Need to Know About Psoriasis. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis (Links to an external site.) Edited by Auguste, Lisandra on Sep 3 at 8:08am Norma

Skin and Breast Conditions

Part 1: Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis

​Psoriasis is believed to be caused by environmental triggers and genetic predispositions that increase the chances of an individual suffering from it (Ayala-Fontánez, Soler, & McCormick, 2016). Environmental triggers such as environmental trauma may develop after injuries to the skin caused by factors such as tattoos or burns. Furthermore, infections can also trigger psoriasis, especially in young children who may have weaker immune systems. On the other hand, genetic predispositions related to skin barriers and immune system barriers have higher psoriasis incidence. According to studies, children with one parent suffering from the condition have a 20% chance of inheriting it. In contrast, those with both parents with the genes have increased chances of a 65% likelihood of getting the condition (Ayala-Fontánez, Soler, & McCormick, 2016). The gene mutations found to induce the

condition affect both the skin and immune system, thus increasing the child’s susceptibility.

Due to the different types of psoriasis variations, the symptoms vary among individuals affected by the condition. Symptoms include inflammation on a section of the skin, dryness of the skin leading to instances of bleeding and cracking, burning sensation around affected patches of skin and increased soreness. Apart from that, other symptoms also include pain and swelling in joints as well as pitted nails (Ayala-Fontánez, Soler, & McCormick, 2016). These symptoms range from small patches to large areas covered in scaling caused by increased skin dryness. The spots mostly affect areas around the lower back, scalp, face and palms of the hands.

Part 2: Comparison and contrasting of Breast Diseases

Fibrocystic breast disease refers to a condition where the tissues in breasts feel lumpy, causing discomfort in women. These symptoms in breasts occur naturally due to changes in the female body brought about by factors such as menstruation (Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center, 2020). While some women may show symptoms such as pain or breast tenderness, some cases do not show any signs. However, older women post-menopause are rarely affected by fibrocystic breast disease due to reduced hormonal changes brought about by ovulation and menstruation. Instances of fibrocystic breasts can resolve by themselves through self-care measures to reduce the pain.

On the other hand, fibroadenoma refers to noncancerous lumps in the breast that are solid in nature (Akram, Iqbal, Daniyal, & Khan, 2017). Being benign, instances of fibroadenoma are usually painless and occur in younger women between the ages of 15 and 35 years. The lumps are generally round in nature and can be moved around the breast when felt by hand. Fibroadenoma can thus be left alone in the body in some cases if they are deemed to be dormant and do not affect the surrounding tissues. By monitoring any size changes, doctors can approve treatment plans to reduce or ultimately remove the lumps.

Finally, a malignant breast tumor is cancerous, thus affects the surrounding tissues around the breast. Due to the aggressive nature of such malignant tumors, they grow exponentially and can cause severe damage if not treated in time (Akram, Iqbal, Daniyal, & Khan, 2017). Thus, the cancerous cells in the breast mutate excessively and attack other cells surrounding it, hence spreading to cover more substantial parts. Therefore, malignant breast tumors require immediate medical attention and treatment with regard to the stage with the most severe requiring surgery to remove them.

References

Akram, M., Iqbal, M., Daniyal, M., & Khan, A. U. (2017). Awareness and current knowledge of breast cancer.

Biological research, 50​(1), 33.

Ayala-Fontánez, N., Soler, D. C., & McCormick, T. S. (2016). Current knowledge on psoriasis and autoimmune diseases. ​Psoriasis (Auckland, N.Z.), 6​, 7-32.

Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center. (2020). ​Different Kinds of Breast Lumps​. Retrieved from Stony Brook

Cancer Center: https://cancer.stonybrookmedicine.edu/breast-cancer-team/patients/bse/breastlumps