Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by inflamed, red, raised areas that often develop on skin with silvery scales. Psoriasis is a persistent, long-lasting or chronic disease with periods of improvement and exacerbation.
The exact cause of psoriasis is still unknown. It affects the life cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin resulting in abnormal fast-growing and shedding of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. Thus you cannot get psoriasis by swimming in the same pool or by eating from the same plate.
Psoriasis typically starts or worsens because of a trigger that you may be able to identify and avoid. Some of them include
itching is a reasonably common symptom especially in scalp and anogenital area.
symptoms of psoriasis. However, these could vary depending on the form and severity of the disease.
Shedding of scales, bony joint pains and swelling if associated with psoriatic arthritis, nail changes-discoloration, loss of nail plate, sudden exacerbation of lesions involving whole body (condition known as erythroderma)
Psoriasis can be seen anywhere over body, more commonly over elbows, knees, trunk, arms, legs and scalp.
Sometimes, it can be seen along various body folds, such as below breats, armpits, groin and around genitals
Psoriasis can affect fingernails and toenails in 25% of cases-
With the development of silvery shiny scales, the physician can usually diagnose psoriasis with a medical examination of the nails and skin. A skin biopsy also helps in the confirmation of the diagnosis.
Specific treatment for psoriasis will be determined by your physician based on
At the present time, there is no cure for psoriasis. Thus, the goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation and slow down the rapid growth and shedding of skin cells.
Light therapy (Phototherapy) – This involves exposing your skin to controlled amounts of the artificial UV-A or UV-B light. It slows skin cell turnover and reduces scaling and inflammation.
Oral medications – In case of severe psoriasis or the resistant types, the dermatologist may prescribe oral or injectable drugs, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, oralretinoid, etc.
We, at Skin and You Clinic, aim at controlling your disease progression and to make you aware of all the factors in your routine life which could predispose for recurrences. Through proper counselling we suggest individualised dietary and lifestyle changes so it is easier to incorporate in your daily life and have a long term control of your condition.