PSORIASIS
IS A SKIN DISORDER
Psoriasis Triggers
- Skin injury or infection
- Emotional stress
- Certain medications
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
Psoriasis causes a thick, patchy, red rash with silvery, white scales.
The most common type is called plaque psoriasis.
- You can get it anywhere, but usually it's on your scalp, elbows, knees & lower back.
- You can't catch it by touching the skin of someone who's got it
- Kids can get psoriasis, but it's more common in adults
When psoriasis starts, you may see a few red bumps on your skin
- These may get larger & thicker & then get scales on top
- The patches may join together & cover large parts of your body
- Your rash can be itchy & uncomfortable
- It may bleed easily if you rub or pick it
Nail Psoriasis
- Up to half of people with skin plaques have psoriasis of the nails as well
- This makes your nails look yellowish-red
- Your nails may also crumble, become pitted, or get grooved lines
- Nearly everyone with psoriasis of the nails also has psoriasis somewhere on the skin
Soriatic Arthritis
- Some people with psoriasis may get psoriatic arthritis
- It causes swelling & pain in your joints & can make it hard to use them for everyday tasks
- You can get psoriatic arthritis at any age, but it's most common between 30 & 50
Diagnosing Psoriasis
- Your doctor can usually diagnose psoriasis by checking your skin, scalp & nails
- He might need to take a sample of your skin cells & look at them under a microscope
to confirm the diagnosis - If you have swelling & pain in your joints, your doctor may also order blood tests & X-rays
to check for arthritis
Treatment With Ointments
- If you have mild to moderate psoriasis, you may get some relief from skin creams
- They can reduce inflammation, itching & cut the rate of skin cell growth
- Some examples include steroid creams, moisturizers, salicylic acid, anthralin, retinoids, calcipotriene (a form of vitamin D) & coal tar
- Tar shampoos are helpful for psoriasis of the scalp
Climatotherapy
- For decades, people have claimed that visiting the Dead Sea in Israel is a powerful treatment for psoriasis
- The sun and water, which is 10 times saltier than the ocean, is believed to be a healing combination
- Scientific evidence suggests this form of climatotherapy works
- In studies, 80% to 90% of people with psoriasis improved after visiting the Dead Sea
- Almost half saw their rash disappear for the next several months
Relieve Stress
- Stress can make your psoriasis worse, so try relaxation techniques to control your
flare-ups - Don't avoid your friends, family & the activities you enjoy because isolation can lead to stress
& depression, which can make your psoriasis symptoms worse - Anything that helps you relax, whether it's yoga, deep breathing or a long walk, may help
ease your symptoms
Natural Remedies
- Getting some sunshine on your skin rash can improve symptoms for some people
- But it's important not to overdo it
- Sunburn makes your psoriasis worse & too much sun raises your risk of skin cancer
- Other natural options include aloe, tea tree oil & oatmeal baths to soothe itchy skin
- Experts are skeptical about diets that claim to treat psoriasis since there's no convincing evidence that they work
Drug Treatments
- Your doctor may also suggest medicine that you take as a pill that targets your immune
system - Options include methotrexate & cyclosporine who both have serious side effects so you'd
need to be checked by your doctor carefully - Certain oral retinoids can also be used to treat severe psoriasis
- The newest pill is Otezla (apremilast) which can also have side effects, but you'll need less monitoring
Biologics
- Biologics are a relatively new way to treat psoriasis
- These drugs are made from living cells
- Like some older psoriasis medications, they change the way your immune system behaves
- You take biologics by an injection, pill, or through an IV
- They work by curbing your immune system, so they can raise your risk of infections
Phototherapy
- If you have moderate to severe psoriasis, UVB phototherapy may help
- This treats the skin with exposure to ultraviolet light
- It's done at your doctor's office or at home using a light device
PUVA Phototherapy
- PUVA has side effects including headache, nausea & fatigue
- It may lead to skin cancer
Laser Therapy
- Lasers are a new twist on phototherapy
- They send out highly focused beams of light
- This lets doctors aim the treatment directly at your rash without hitting healthy skin
- Laser therapy may have fewer side effects & a smaller risk of skin cancer compared
to traditional phototherapy
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