Experience clear skin with psoriasis treatments

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes flaky, scaly patches of skin, and can be very uncomfortable or even painful. It happens when your immune system mistakes healthy skin cells for harmful invaders and attacks them, causing a rapid buildup of dead skin cells.

It primarily affects adults aged 20-30 and 50-60 years old, although anyone can get it. Unfortunately, there is no cure for psoriasis; however, there are some ways to effectively manage flare-ups.

There are several types of psoriasis, each with its own symptoms:

1. Plaque psoriasis

The most common type, plaque psoriasis, makes up 80-90% of cases. It is characterised by raised, inflamed patches of skin commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, and torso. These patches are commonly painful or itchy.

2. Scalp psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is not a distinct form of psoriasis. Instead, it simply refers to psoriasis (usually plaque) that is located on the scalp. Psoriasis on the scalp can cause thick, scaly patches that are itchy, red, and usually painful.

There are many ways to treat this condition, including scalp psoriasis medicines such as corticosteroids and vitamin D analogues. In addition to this, remedies for psoriasis on the scalp include scalp psoriasis shampoo, soothing oils, and aloe vera moisturisers. Finding the right scalp psoriasis treatment usually involves trying different things and seeing which one works best for you, as long as a doctor has approved treatment.

3. Nail psoriasis

Nail psoriasis affects the fingernails and toenails and can cause pitting, thickening, discolouration, and sometimes pain. It happens because the process that causes psoriasis of the skin affects nails as well. It usually happens alongside plaque psoriasis, but can also occur by itself.

4. Guttate psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis makes up around 8% of cases, and mostly affects children and young adults. This type of psoriasis causes small teardrop-shaped patches, usually dotted around the torso and limbs. In people with darker skin colour, guttate psoriasis can be difficult to diagnose since lesions may not be red or scaly like psoriasis usually is.

5. Inverse psoriasis

Unlike most other types of psoriasis, inverse psoriasis is not scaly. It is characterised instead by smooth, shiny patches in skin folds that are usually red, purple, or brown in colour.

It is made worse by friction from clothes rubbing against your skin and excessive sweating. Obese people are more likely to have inverse psoriasis as they typically have more skin folds and experience more friction. It’s commonly mistaken for other conditions like yeast infections or intertrigo.

6. Pustular psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis is a rare, and often severe, form of psoriasis characterised by white pus-filled blisters on red, scaly skin. Aside from the blisters, it can look similar to plaque psoriasis, but it’s important to differentiate between the two. Pustular psoriasis can also cause pain, burning, and fever, and sometimes requires stronger treatment than other types.

7. Erythrodermic psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis is rare, making up roughly 2% of cases. It is a severe form of the condition that causes red, inflamed, scaly skin over most of the body. It tends to be more painful than other forms of psoriasis, causing burn-like symptoms that are very itchy.

It often forms as a result of inadequate treatment of plaque psoriasis, such as when abruptly stopping prescription treatments or overusing topical ones. It’s important to seek treatment for erythrodermic psoriasis straight away, as left untreated, it can increase your risk of heart failure, infections, and pneumonia.

In people with psoriasis, skin cells multiply much faster than normal. This causes a buildup of cells, forming itchy, scaly patches which are called plaques. It is an autoimmune disorder where T-cells (a type of white blood cell) attack healthy skin cells despite nothing actually being wrong with them.

It’s not known exactly what causes the immune system to attack healthy skin cells, but the trait is thought to be genetic. This means having a family member with the condition makes you more likely to have it as well. But this is usually not enough to trigger flare-ups. According to one study, psoriasis is usually caused by a mix of environmental and genetic factors.

What causes outbreaks of psoriasis?

Psoriasis outbreaks can occur at any time in people with the condition, but they can also be triggered by environmental factors:

• Skin injury: In people with psoriasis, new skin lesions can appear at sites of skin injury like cuts, scrapes, and burns. This phenomenon is known as the Koebner response, and can cause psoriasis to spread to new areas, or even cause a new outbreak entirely.
• Infections: Guttate psoriasis can develop after a streptococcal throat infection, also known as strep throat. This is usually seen in children and young adults. However, most people who have this infection do not develop psoriasis.
• Stress: Flare-ups of skin conditions like psoriasis can be triggered by high levels of stress.
• Cigarettes and alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol increase inflammation and significantly weaken the immune system, which can cause an outbreak of psoriasis. They can also make psoriasis treatments less effective.
• Certain medications: Lithium, ibuprofen, blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors), and certain antimalarials can trigger or worsen psoriasis symptoms.
• Weather: Cold, dark weather can dry skin and cause cracks, which can trigger psoriasis due to the Koebner response. Less sunlight also means lower vitamin D, which can affect immune system regulation and cause flare-ups.

The defining symptom of psoriasis is itchy, raised patches of skin. These are usually scaly, but certain types, like inverse psoriasis, can be shiny and smooth. The colour can vary too. While usually pink or red, psoriasis rashes can appear purple or dark brown on black and brown skin, and the scales can look grey. For this reason, psoriasis on dark skin is often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

Other psoriasis symptoms include:

• itching
• burning
• dry, cracked skin
• scalp problems (dryness, dandruff-like symptoms)
• nail problems (discolouration, dents, separation from the nail bed)
• joint pain

Most psoriasis outbreaks go away on their own after some time passes, but the condition itself is chronic and cannot be cured. That means most people who have psoriasis go through cycles of flare-ups and recovery throughout their lives.

Psoriasis is usually diagnosed through a visual examination by a qualified doctor or dermatologist. They will look for the scaly patches characteristic of psoriasis, as well as where on your body they are located. They may also ask you whether any skin conditions run in your family, as this makes them more likely to affect you.

In rare cases, a doctor may take a small sample of your skin and send it to the laboratory for testing. This will help them determine exactly what your skin condition is. At 121doc, our doctors will require some photos of your skin, so they will be able to diagnose your condition.

Psoriasis cannot be cured, but it can be managed effectively by employing a variety of techniques and lifestyle changes:

• Moisturise: Thick, fragrance-free emollients can hydrate your skin and reduce scaling, itching, and cracking.
• Be gentle with your skin: Avoid scratching and scrubbing, no matter how satisfying it may feel at the time. Also, avoid harsh soaps.
• Limit alcohol and quit smoking: Cigarettes and alcohol can cause flare-ups and make symptoms worse. Avoid them entirely or, at the very least, limit your intake.
• Manage stress: High stress levels can worsen psoriasis. Avoid stressful situations if possible and try stress-relieving techniques like yoga or meditation.
• Know your triggers: Note down what triggers your psoriasis and what worsens symptoms. This way, you can avoid them in the future.

When psoriasis flare-ups become frequent or unmanageable, it may be time for prescription medication. There are many lotions, gels, and creams for psoriasis that can help soothe symptoms and ease flare-ups.

Additionally, you should seek immediate medical help if you have erythrodermic psoriasis, as leaving it untreated can lead to serious health complications.

Psoriasis treatment options come in the form of gels, creams, ointments, and scalp applications. The optimal treatment depends on the type of psoriasis you have, where it appears on the body, and how severe your symptoms are.

You can also use coal tar solutions or vitamin D analogues; over-the-counter remedies which can soothe symptoms. However, these are usually not strong enough for moderate or severe conditions. For the best treatment, corticosteroids are typically the most effective. In severe cases, treatments called biologics are also highly effective at managing the condition.

121doc provides several prescription treatment options for psoriasis. These include topical corticosteroids, such as Dermovate, Betnovate, and Elocon. They help improve symptoms by reducing skin inflammation and irritation.