Psoriasis is a common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells.
It causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin.
The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are itchy and sometimes painful.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that often comes and goes.
The main goal of treatment is to stop the skin cells from growing so quickly.
There is no cure for psoriasis, but it’s possible for you to manage symptoms.
Lifestyle measures, such as moisturizing, quitting smoking and managing stress, may help.
Psoriasis signs and symptoms are different for everyone.
There are several types of psoriasis.
These include:
If you suspect that you may have psoriasis, see your doctor for an examination.
T cells normally travel through the body to defend against foreign substances, such as viruses or bacteria.
These travel into the skin causing redness and sometimes pus in pustular lesions.
Dilated blood vessels in psoriasis-affected areas create warmth and redness in the skin lesions.
Just what causes T cells to malfunction in people with psoriasis isn’t entirely clear.
Researchers believe both genetics and environmental factors play a role.
Psoriasis typically starts or worsens because of a trigger that you may be able to identify and avoid.
These include:
In most cases, diagnosis of psoriasis is fairly straightforward.
Psoriasis treatments reduce inflammation and scrub the skin.
Treatments can be divided into three main types: topical treatments, light therapy and systemic medications.
Used alone, creams and ointments that you apply to your skin can effectively treat mild to moderate psoriasis.
When the disease is more severe, creams are likely to be combined with oral medications or light therapy.
Your doctor may prescribe stronger corticosteroid ointment for smaller, less sensitive or tougher-to-treat areas.
Long-term use or overuse of strong corticosteroids can cause thinning of the skin.
Topical corticosteroids may stop working over time.
It’s usually best to use topical corticosteroids as a short-term treatment during flares.
The risk of birth defects is far lower for topical retinoids than for oral retinoids.
Coal tar is available in over-the-counter shampoos, creams and oils.
It’s also available in higher concentrations by prescription.
This treatment isn’t recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
This treatment uses natural or artificial ultraviolet light.
The simplest and easiest form of phototherapy involves exposing your skin to controlled amounts of natural sunlight.
This more aggressive treatment consistently improves skin and is often used for more-severe cases of psoriasis.
Short-term side effects include nausea, headache, burning and itching.
This is known as systemic treatment.
Patients with pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis or associated arthritis usually need systemic therapy from the beginning of treatment.
The goal is to find the most effective way to slow cell turnover with the fewest possible side effects.
There are a number of new medications currently being researched that have the potential to improve psoriasis treatment.
These treatments target different proteins that work with the immune system.
None have definitively been proved effective.
He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of specific alternative therapies.
Although self-help measures won’t cure psoriasis, they may help improve the appearance and feel of damaged skin.
The ongoing, persistent nature of the disease and the treatment challenges only add to the burden.
Here are some ways to help you cope and to feel more in control:
Updated: 05-12-2017
