Psoriasis
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a treatable autoimmune disease that affects the skin and nails. Twenty percent of people who have psoriasis will have involvement of their joints, presenting as arthritis. There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic. Some people have more than one “type” of psoriasis at the same time. The most common type of psoriasis is the plaque type. This appears as pink scaling usually raised areas of skin commonly on the elbows, knees, trunk and scalp. Itching is not a prominent feature of psoriasis, but it can occur.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis has recently been linked to other serious health conditions, such as heart disease, depression and diabetes. Due to this fact, it is especially important that you do not smoke if you have a diagnosis of psoriasis. We also recommend a yearly physical exam with your primary care physician.
Treatments for Psoriasis:
There are many available treatment options for psoriasis. These include topical creams, ultraviolet light treatments, oral medications and certain injections. Your dermatologist can review these options with you at your appointment.