Psoriasis
Psoriasis
What Is It?
Psoriasis is a skin condition which shows up as a rash with dry, silvery, scaling patches and can flare up for no apparent reason. The affected areas often crack and are sometimes painful. Psoriasis is found mainly on the elbows, knees, scalp, chest and trunk and can also affect the toenails and fingernails. It may begin in late childhood or young adulthood and usually continues throughout life.
What Causes It?
The cause of psoriasis is currently unknown but recent investigations show the immune system plays a major role. Psoriasis is a genetic skin condition, therefore a family history of psoriasis can cause a person to develop the disease. Other aggravating factors include trauma to the skin and emotional stress.
What Can Be Done?
Psoriasis can usually be controlled but unfortunately there is no cure for psoriasis. Topical steroids are the first line of treatment to control inflammation. Combination therapies using topical steroids and Vitamin D or Vitamin A prescription creams provide more relief from the symptoms.
Tar is another topical medicine sometimes still used to treat psoriasis. Tars are used in shampoos for scalp psoriasis and tar oil can be added to a bath for soaking the whole skin area. Tar preparations applied directly to the affected area at bedtime are most effective.
Various oral medications are available for severe psoriasis. These include methotrexate, acetretin and cyclosporine. Side effects exist for each of these medicines and our professional staff will advise of the potential risks before beginning one of these treatments. The newest medications available are biologic agents given to patients for the control of psoriatic arthritis and skin lesions.
Ultraviolet light therapy (UVB) has been shown to improve psoriasis. Occasionally UVA light may be used. It can be used alone or in conjunction with topical steroids or tar therapy. Both UVB and UVA treatments are available at Gold Skin Care Center.
Tennessee Clinical Research Center continues to participate in clinical studies involving new treatment or combination therapies used in the treatment of psoriasis.
