Everybody's skin gets dry and a little flaky once in a while, and usually, it's easy to clear up—all it takes is applying lotion more frequently, switching soaps or laundry detergents, or avoiding common skin allergens like nickel and certain preservatives. But what if you've developed itchy, painful, rough patches of skin that just won't go away? You might have psoriasis.
Learn more about what causes psoriasis, what it looks and feels like, how it's diagnosed, and your treatment options.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous, circumscribed scaly papules, and plaques. It can cause itching, irritation, burning, and stinging. Although approximately 30% of people with cutaneous psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis, this topic only discusses cutaneous psoriasis.
Psoriatic lesions are red, inflamed, silvery-white scaly, and circumscribed papules and plaques; often affecting elbows, knees, extensor limbs, and scalp, and, less commonly, nails, ear, and umbilical region.
Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease with a genetic basis. Exacerbations of disease may be related to infection, alcohol, medications, stress, and intercurrent illness.
Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease with a genetic basis. Exacerbations of disease may be related to infection, alcohol, medications, stress, and intercurrent illness.
Believe it or not, there can also be signs of psoriasis on the nails. "There can be misshapen nails, nail pitting or ridging, or oil spots under the nail plate that can cause nail discoloration,” says Dr. Buka.
Mild or limited psoriasis is treated with topical corticosteroids and/or vitamin D analogs.
Moderate to severe and/or extensive psoriasis may require phototherapy, and systemic agents such as methotrexate, ciclosporin, acitretin, or biological agents.
Mild or limited psoriasis is treated with topical corticosteroids and/or vitamin D analogs.
Moderate to severe and/or extensive psoriasis may require phototherapy, and systemic agents such as methotrexate, ciclosporin, acitretin, or biological agents.
