In summer i psoriasis patients they bear the disease more: symptoms and ailments, in fact, decrease. But it is a momentary condition. With the arrival ofwinter the complex chronic inflammatory pathology returns. All the fault of the cause of psoriasis, which lies in an abnormal proliferation of the keratinocytes that make up the epidermis. Dry air, less exposure to sunlight and a higher chance of getting sick from infectious or flu syndromes can worsen symptoms.
A study, published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, recently analyzed the link between psoriasis symptoms and the seasons. Objective: to verify if there was a variation in the interest in the disease based on seasonality. The authors – as reported in an article published on the ‘Allies for Health’ website (www.alleatiperlasalute.it ), the portal dedicated to medical-scientific information created by Novartis – analyzed data from searches on Google Trends compatible with psoriasis problems, to identify a seasonal pattern for the disease and observe the trend in people’s interests. From the research done on the web and social networks it is possible, in fact, to monitor the symptoms, what the patient thinks and wants to know about the disease and the therapy he receives. From the knowledge of these elements it is possible to have access to a series of information able to facilitate the doctor-patient relationship and to think about more personalized therapies.
The researchers – underlines the article – analyzed the volume of searches related to the term ‘psoriasis’ from January 2004 to December 2018. To evaluate the seasonality of the disease, the researchers compared data from two countries in the southern hemisphere ( Australia and New Zealand) and four Northern Hemisphere countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland). Overall, it was found that the number of psoriasis researches decreased steadily between 2004 and 2010, and then increased again from 2011 to 2018. In the two samples, a significant variation, depending on the season, was also highlighted in the volume of research for psoriasis.
The study shows that the most significant research peaks are recorded at the end of winter and in the first months of spring, while minimum values are typical of the months of late summer and early autumn. This data confirms what is known to patients. In fact, in the winter months the beneficial effect of the sun’s rays is reduced and the low humidity of the air and the use of heating systems can increase the dryness of the skin and promote the circulation of flu viruses: all conditions that can worsen the psoriasis symptoms and the patient’s quality of life.
Among the top 11 most searched topics (keywords) on the web, which constitute the topics of the main areas of interest, doubt or concern of users, in addition to some specific drugs for the treatment of the disease, often appear: shampoo; eczema; guttate psoriasis; seborrheic dermatitis; dermatitis; psoriatic arthritis; Atopic dermatitis. According to the authors of the study, in light of this information, in addition to investigating seasonality in the public interest, the data obtained from the Internet could be used to guide public health interventions and manage care for patients with psoriasis in a personalized way. according to the season. The disease in fact has a variable course but unfortunately, even after improvements, it recurs.
The full article is available on: https://www.alleatiperlasalute.it/una-mela-al-giorno/psoriasi-e-stagionalita
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