What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a common non-contagious skin condition that results when a person’s immune system sends faulty signals to the skin, telling it to grow too quickly. Skin cells build up and result in red scaly patches that can become thick and itchy. There are multiple forms of psoriasis, including large plaque psoriasis where patients develop large patches of red scaly skin, guttate psoriasis where patients form very small pink spots of psoriasis, pustular psoriasis where the rash contains pus bumps, erythrodermic psoriasis where the entire skin is red and painful or joint psoriasis, also called psoriatic arthritis, where patients develop joint inflammation which can ultimate destroy joints if not treated.
Psoriasis can occur at any age, but it most commonly presents between the ages of 15 and 30 or 50 and 60 years old. Although we don’t know the exact cause of psoriasis, genetics are important. Certain “triggers,” such as stress, strep throat, specific medications, dry cold weather, or skin injury may bring out psoriasis or cause disease flare-ups.
Although psoriasis may be most obvious on the skin as an inflammatory rash, it is important to understand that psoriasis also causes internal inflammation. Internal inflammation has been linked to higher rates of diabetes, heart problems, and destructive joint arthritis in some patients.
We have many effective treatments for psoriasis and your particular treatment plan will depend on the extent and severity of your condition. Therapies can include topical, oral, and injected medications or light and laser therapies. We understand that psoriasis is a chronic disease but are experienced in treatments and are involved in testing and using the newest, most cutting-edge medications and treatment protocols available.
