What is Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. It typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, though it can appear on any location. Some people report that psoriasis is itchy, burns and stings. The body naturally develops new skin cells every month to replace skin that sheds or flakes off. With psoriasis, new skin cells form within days rather than weeks. This rapid growth causes dead skin cells to accumulate on the skin’s surface, resulting in thick patches of red, dry, and itchy skin covered with silvery scales that are sometimes painful.
What are the Causes and Symptoms
- Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children)
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
- Itching, burning or soreness
- Thickened, pitted or ridged nails
- Swollen and stiff joints
TYPES OF PSORIASIS
Treatment & Procedure
Treating your psoriasis is critical to good disease management and overall health. Work with your doctor to find a treatment—or treatments—that reduce or eliminate your symptoms. What works for one person with psoriasis might not work for another. So it’s important to know the different treatment options and keep trying until you find the right regimen for you.
Biologic drugs, or “biologics,” are usually prescribed for moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis that has not responded to other treatments. They are given by injection or intravenous (IV) infusion.
Systemic medications are prescription drugs that are taken orally or by injection and work throughout the body. They are usually used for individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Phototherapy or light therapy, involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light on a regular basis and under medical supervision. Treatments are done in a doctor’s office or psoriasis clinic or at home with phototherapy unit.
New oral treatments improve symptoms of psoriatic disease by inhibiting specific molecules associated with inflammation. Unlike biologics, which are derived from living sources and must be administered via injection or infusion, these treatments can be effectively delivered as tablets taken by mouth.
Topical treatments are applied to the skin and are usually the first treatment to try when diagnosed with psoriasis. Topicals can be purchased over the counter or by prescription.