Psoriasis: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

An inflammatory disease called psoriasis makes your skin inflamed. Psoriasis symptoms include thick, scale-covered patches of discolored skin. We refer to these thick, scaly patches as plaques.

Once thought to be a lifelong curse, psoriasis and its various manifestations – in the nails, scalp, joints, etc.- can be effectively managed with recent advances in therapy, like the latest tablets, biologicals, and biosimilars.

Which Area of My Body Will Be Impacted By Psoriasis?

Psoriasis can appear on any part of your skin. Psoriasis often occurs on your:

Elbows and knees
Face and inside of your mouth
Scalp
Fingernails and toenails
Genitals
Lower back
Palms and feet

Most individuals have a small area of their skin affected by psoriasis. In more serious situations, the plaques merge to encompass a vast portion of your body.

What Exactly Is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of joint inflammation characterized by swelling and pain. Like psoriasis, it is a disorder in which the immune system malfunctions, leading to symptoms. Approximately 33% of individuals diagnosed with psoriasis will develop arthritis as a result of inflammation. Getting treatment for psoriatic arthritis early can lessen harm to your joints.

Who Is Impacted By Psoriasis And What Is Its Prevalence?

Psoriasis can affect individuals of any age, gender, or ethnic background. Millions of individuals are impacted by psoriasis. Psoriasis affects roughly 2-4% of the population.

Are Psoriasis and Eczema Identical Conditions?

Psoriasis and eczema are distinct skin conditions, but they can look very similar at times. Both situations result in comparable symptoms, such as skin discoloration, a rash, and itching. Psoriasis plaques result in patches of thickened skin covered with scales. Eczema results in a dry and bumpy skin rash. Eczema usually leads to itchiness that is more severe than psoriasis.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is caused by an immune system that overreacts and leads to inflammation in the skin.

If you have psoriasis, your immune system should eliminate external threats like bacteria to maintain your health and prevent illnesses. In psoriasis, your immune system could identify healthy cells as unfamiliar intruders. Therefore, inflammation or swelling created by your immune system manifests as skin plaques on the surface of your skin.

New skin cells typically require around 30 days to develop and substitute old skin cells. Your hyperactive immune system alters the new skin cell growth timeframe to three to four days. The rapid turnover of new cells results in flakes and regular shedding on top of patches of skin.

Psoriasis is hereditary and often occurs within families. Genetics could play a role in psoriasis as biological parents can transmit the condition to their offspring.

What Triggers Flare-Ups of Psoriasis?

A sudden occurrence of psoriasis, known as a flare-up, leads to psoriasis symptoms due to exposure to a trigger, such as an irritant or allergen. Psoriasis flare-ups vary from individual to individual. Typical causes of psoriasis flare-ups include:

Emotional stress
A bacterial infection (caused by streptococcus bacteria)
An injury to the skin, such as cuts, scrapes, or surgery
Specific drugs like lithium and beta-blockers
Variations in body temperature are caused by the climate

Can Psoriasis Be Spread From Person To Person?

No, psoriasis cannot be passed from one person to another. Coming into contact with another person’s psoriasis skin rash will not give you psoriasis.

What Are The Treatment Options For Psoriasis?

There are various psoriasis treatments available to alleviate symptoms of psoriasis. Popular methods for treating psoriasis include:

Creams that contain steroids
Moisturizers designed for individuals with dry skin
Treatment using anthralin to decrease the rate of skin cell growth
Lotions or shampoos with medication
The ointment made with Vitamin D3, like calcipotriol
Creams containing Vitamin A or retinoids

Creams or ointments could effectively treat the rash on localized skin areas. If your rash covers more extensive areas or if you experience joint pain, different treatments will be necessary. Joint pain could indicate arthritis.

A treatment plan will be determined by the specialist considering the following:

We, Adityan Skin And Hair Laser Centre, provide psoriasis treatment in Chennai. You can visit us for a consultation. We’ve another branch situated in Madurai for psoriasis treatment in Madurai.

What Happens If Conventional Psoriasis Therapies Are Ineffective?

If your psoriasis symptoms do not get better with treatment or if you have extensive involvement (10% or more of your skin), your healthcare provider may suggest the following treatment options:

Light therapy: It involves using LED lights of certain wavelengths to reduce skin inflammation and hinder the production of skin cells.
PUVA: This therapy involves an administration of psoralen medication followed by exposure to a specific type of ultraviolet light.
Retinoids: Vitamin A-related drugs, known as retinoids, can alleviate psoriasis symptoms but may also lead to side effects such as birth defects.
Immune therapies: New immune therapies like biologics and small molecule inhibitors function by preventing the activation of your immune system to avoid triggering an autoimmune response.
Methotrexate: It is prescribed by healthcare professionals for severe psoriasis cases. Liver disease can be the result of it. Your progress will be monitored by your provider through blood tests if you decide to take it. Periodic liver biopsies may be necessary to monitor the health of your liver.
Cyclosporine: It can effectively treat severe psoriasis, although it has the potential to elevate blood pressure and harm the kidneys.

Before beginning treatment, communicate with your healthcare provider regarding potential side effects and disclose all current medications or supplements.

What Can I Do To Prevent Developing Psoriasis?

There is no way to stop psoriasis completely. However, you can lower your chances of experiencing symptoms by adhering to your doctor’s recommended treatment, adopting a healthy lifestyle, properly managing your skincare, and avoiding triggers. Fortunately, with advancement in research, newer therapies like biologicals have arrived and work well with minimal side effects. Better such treatments will be available soon.