Psoriasis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Psoriasis - Research Paper Example During this era psoriasis denomination was still to be standardized and its translation from one language to another faced a huge discrepancy. Such is the case that different authors termed the ailment differently, while diverse ailments had the same names. Confusion in description and terminology of psoriasis went on for centuries. Considered the ugliest disease of the olden days, psoriasis became synonymous with all kind of people, whether a king, member of the kingly family, politician, business person or ordinary person. According early scholars, psoriasis is much similar to the tzaraat disease cited in the Bible. Psoriasis was first mentioned by a Greek physician called Hippocrates (460-377 BC). However, this did not offer formal introduction until a roman author called Cornelius Celsus described it in the first century. According to his description Psoriasis is a condition caused by staphylococcus pyogenes characterized by red patches and watery blisters on the skin. Having been kept unattended for thousands of years, this condition is became a real concern following the exhumation of the Egyptian mummies. The Greeks termed it â€Å"psora†, meaning â€Å"to itch† a reason that makes it to be considered an understatement of the centuries! During this period, majority of the medical minds found it hard to isolate the symptoms and only remained baffled with the condition. Throughout this period, people remain superstitious over the causes and development of psoriasis until Hippocrates (Father of Medicine 460-377 B.C.) replaced the superstitious mind with knowledge in curing skin ailments. Using this knowledge, Hippocrates introduced the treatment of skin ailments using tar that was added to the superstitious mix and also prescribed topical arsenic (Langley, pg34). This condition presented great problem typified with confusion with other related skin conditions believed to be contagious. Psoriasis was commonly