Our skin is prone to drying and scaling due to common triggers such as sun exposure, weather changes, and normal skin conditions. However, if skin patches occur, causing pain and affecting your everyday routine, you may be experiencing a more severe skin condition called Psoriasis.
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month so we thought we would share more information about this skin condition with you to help you identify it if you suspect you may have developed it or to help you live with it if you already have it.
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What is Psoriasis and what causes it?
Psoriasis is a long-term chronic disease that is often characterized by flaky skin. It is linked with immune system dysfunction that results in inflammation of the body. The skin cells grow faster than usual, with the rapid turnover resulting in dry and scaly patches. Patches called plaque may appear on the elbows, knees, and scalp. They may also be visible on the eyelids, lips, ears, hands, feet, and nails.
More than 3% of the adult population in the United States develops psoriasis. That is equivalent to over 7. 55 million people. However, psoriasis is not contagious, and it has no cure. A third of those people will likely have psoriatic arthritis.
August is the celebration of Psoriasis Awareness Month. It aims to spread information about the skin disease and highlights the importance of identifying its symptoms and seeking medical treatment to keep it manageable.
People with psoriasis often live with the disease for years without having symptoms. Psoriasis awareness starts with knowing the causes. Below we discuss the common causes that may cause psoriasis to flare.
Here are the common causes of psoriasis:
- Infections of the skin and in the throat
- Cold and dry weather conditions
- Skin injuries
- Sunburn
- Smoking
- Too much alcohol intake
- Certain medications, including lithium and high blood pressure drugs
- Rapid withdrawal of oral steroids
Although we mentioned before that psoriasis is not contagious, people whose family members have a history of psoriasis have a higher risk of developing the skin condition.
Smoking tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke can also put a person at risk of having psoriasis. Nicotine in cigarettes triggers the body to release cytokines, which affects the interaction of cells in the body, thus increasing skin cell production.
What are the symptoms of Psoriasis?
Psoriasis has distinct signs and symptoms you can easily spot. It is essential to know these so that early detection and treatment arrangements can be done as early as possible.
The usual symptoms of psoriasis are:
- Scaly patches: The most common sign is dandruff-like scales that appear on different body parts
- Colored rashes: The colors of patches differ by skin tone. Dark-skinned individuals develop purple or gray rashes, while light-skinned individuals develop pink or red rashes with silver scales
- Small spots: Tiny, scaly patches appear primarily in children
- Dry and cracked skin: Dry rashes that can be prone to bleeding
- Itching and soreness: The affected area turns itchy and irritated
- Recurring flare-ups: Eruption of rashes that last for a few weeks to months
Although psoriasis can develop at any age, the symptoms appear primarily between ages 15 to 25. It affects men, women, and children of all skin colors.
How can I treat Psoriasis?
Psoriasis has no cure, but the good thing is that it is not contagious and can be kept under control with a wide range of available treatments. The treatments depend on the type of Psoriasis and its severity. Below we discuss some of those treatments.
Topical
The most convenient and non-invasive treatments for psoriasis are creams and ointments applied to your skin. People with mild psoriasis use a topical treatment to control flare-ups. It takes up to six weeks for noticeable results.
Phototherapy
This process uses natural and artificial light to treat psoriasis.
Dermatologists use ultraviolet light to slow down the production of skin cells for moderate to severe psoriasis. You may need to attend several sessions before your scaly patches begin to disappear.
Systemic
If the first two treatments do not work for you, your dermatologist may advise taking oral and injected medications that are effective in treating your psoriasis. However, you must take precautionary measures if you choose this treatment as this may affect pregnancy and other pre-existing health conditions.
Your dermatologist can identify what type of psoriasis you have and what is the best treatment for your skin condition. If you experience these signs and/or symptoms of psoriasis, consult with a dermatologist for confirmation. Skin experts may run a few tests to diagnose if you have psoriasis. You can contact Team Dermatology to schedule an appointment and begin your psoriasis treatment today.
