Immune System

[Ms E]

Please link me if this has been discussed . . .

I don't understand the role of the immune system with psoriasis. It seems I should have a low/weak one since I have it . . .but I don't. I rarely get sick even when others in my family do, and if I do get sick, I get better fast. (knock on wood)

Also, p usually clears up for pregnant women (made mine worse) and usually PG women have a weak immune system.

TIA!

[chaimFL]

The truth is that people with autoimmune diseases have overactive immune system. This doesn't mean that it's neccessarily stronger, but it could be in some people.

The immune system attacks all foreign substances to prevent us from getting sick or to heal us from illness or trauma. The immune response causes inflammation and that is why when we get injured you see reddness and swelling. With illness the repsonse is usually with a fever, which is a type of inflammation.

Autoimmune diseases make the immune system see something as foreign eventhough it's not.

With psoriasis the immune system sees our skin (and joints if you have psoriatic arthritis) as foreign and therefore sends out the troops to attach. In return we have inflammtion of the skin (and joints).

There are other things that contribute to psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases for that matter, but the immune system is certainly the focal point.

[bratsareus]

My P started with my first pregnancy. I have 7 kids and during each pregnancy my p got worse. Heres a link to info on the NPFs explanation of the immune system and P.

http://www.psoriasis.org/research/known/immune.php

[Ms E]

chaimFL, very helpful!

bratsareus, great link, though I'll have to re-read it a few times. Interesting that PG made it worse . . .also scary, since I am contemplating a third child.

[psoriaspouse]

Ms E - It is possible you will have a different experience with this pregnancy since each time a woman gets pregnant they can have a different set of hormonal changes and responses. It just depends on the person and the pregnancy.

Pregnancy causes the immune system to ramp up - at least in terms of your white blood cell count. Your white blood cell count is an indicator of infection in the body. In pregnant women (and for a few weeks postpartum), it can be hard to tell if a person has an infection because their white blood cell count is naturally elevated.

Maybe the components of the the immune system that are responsible for P flares ramp up during pregnancy as well:
1) T-cells - the cells responsible for the inflammation
2) cytokines - the chemical messengers that tell the T-cells to take action on the skin
Just a thought, but like I said, pregnancy to pregancy variations may surprise you.

Overall immune system strength and P seem to be individual as well. DH NEVER gets sick - he has a bomber immune system - and he has severe P. P seems to be as unique as a fingerprint.

[SCCatman]

haveing P means a strong immune system.
Anything like ecanacia will likely make it worse.

People with P have a slightly lower incidence of P. It is not much, like 1% or 2% fewer colds and flu.

Last year there was a like to a site for doctors that had a like to a study.

Dennis

[bibi2]

haveing P means a strong immune system.

having P means a very strong imune system which is overworking. it is the opposite of AIDS

[SCCatman]

looking at my post, must have been asleep
I meant people with P have a lower incidents of cold and flu.
I also meant link, not like.
Dennis