Little girl, 9, lives in agony as psoriasis leaves her covered in flaky yellow scales and unable to play with her friends
The condition is causing her such unbearable irritation she is unable do things most girls her age can do, like have fun playing with her friends
A NINE-year-old girl is so tortured by a condition that causes her skin to form scales and flake off she can’t even play with her friends.
Ranee Boornrung, from the Yala province in the south of Thailand, has suffered from psoriasis for two years.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.
It can start at any age, but is more common in adults under 35.
The patches on the skin normally appear on elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can spread to other parts of the body.
In most cases they only affect small patches of skin but in more severe cases, like Ranee’s, it can have a severe impact on the suffers quality of life.
Ranee has sore, flaky patches all over her body, including her face.
The condition is causing her such unbearable irritation she is unable do things most girls her age can do, like have fun playing with her friends.
When she was first diagnosed, she received treatment at Trang's Institute of Dermatology but it was ineffective.
A similar result followed treatment at the hospital in nearby Had Yai.
Desperate to find relief for their daughter, Ranee’s parents put her on a two-month treatment programme at Had Yai Univesity but, again, they had little success.
Now they have heard of a new three-month treatment in the Buriram province in Thailand and are hoping that will rid their daughter of the condition.
Her mother said: “We've now heard of a doctor in Buriram who might be able to help stop the sickness progressing but the treatment will take three months.
“We're poor and the cost of travel and treatment is very expensive so we're hoping an appeal on the internet might help our daughter get better.”
WHAT IS PSORIASIS?
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.
These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body.
Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.
It affects around two per cent of the UK population.
Why does it happen?
People with psoriasis have an increased production of skin cells.
Skin cells are normally made and replaced every three to four weeks, but in psoriasis this process only lasts about three to seven days.
The resulting build-up of skin cells is what creates the patches associated with psoriasis.
It is thought to be a problem with the immune system and can run in families.
How is it treated?
There's no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.
n most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids.
Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin.
If these aren't effective, or your condition is more severe, a treatment called phototherapy may be used.
Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.
In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. These are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the whole body.
Source: NHS
The condition affects around two per cent of the UKs population and has gained widespread media attention lately after Kim Kardashian admitted to suffering from it.
Although in most cases psoriasis is a minor irritation, it can have a significant impact on quality of life for those who suffer severely wit the condition.
Some sufferers have low self-esteem or could develop tenderness, pain and swelling in the joints.
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These symptoms prompted a man, named Ryan, to appear on Channel 5’s GPs Behind Closed Doors, desperately trying to find a treatment that eases his problem.
His psoriasis is so severe his face is red raw and flaky and the skin on his leg has been reduced to powder.
The condition has also caused him arthritis, and both problems cause him pain and discomfort on a daily basis.
It is best to speak to a GP about the effects of the condition and any concerns you may have.