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Fizza Mahmood
02 May 2024
Psoriasis is a skin condition in which the skin doesn't shed and rather accumulates to form dry, red patches. It is fairly common and the psoriasis symptoms can be managed by lifestyle changes or psoriasis treatments.
Psoriasis is a long-term, autoimmune condition affecting the skin. Psoriasis affects millions of people worldwide. It can occur at any age, although symptoms often start between 15-25 years of age.
A normal cell cycle if growth and shedding within a month; however, in psoriasis, this process occurs in 3-4 days, and skin cells dont shed and accumulate instead.
People with psoriasis often get a rash with itchy, scaly patches or plaques, and it mostly occurs on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It can be dry, raised, and red patches of skin. Also, it can appear on any part of the body, and the plaques can be in small patches or on large, multiple areas.
The cause of the condition is not entirely understood and it's thought to be an immune system problem where infection fighting cells attack healthy skin cells by mistake.
Triggers
Psoriasis symptoms can be triggered by infections, viral or on the skin. Further, it can be due to injury to the skin or smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption. Similarly, some medications can increase the flare-up and cause psoriasis to become more severe.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop psoriasis, however the chances can increase the risk of developing if there is family history and smoking tobacco increases the risk of psoriasis.
Red and inflamed patches, Itching and discomfort, nail changes and joint pain.
There are 5 types of psoriasis and it is possible to have more than one type at one time and more than one type can be experienced during a lifetime.
It is the most common type and in this the plaques can appear anywhere on the body as raised inflamed patches with itchy painful skin with scales (red with silvery white). Also for some people the plaques would be of purple colour and that merely depends on person to person skin type.
This type of psoriasis includes the inflamed sharp sharp-edged, red or darkened skin which is smooth and not scaly, mainly affecting skin folds such as underarms, under breasts, and the genital/buttocks areas.
This occurs after a viral infection. In this small round, red or discolored spots are caused by inflammation and often appear on legs, arms, and torso.
These symptoms include pustules, which have raised bumps filled with non-infection pus on tender red skin. Thus usually requires oral medication to treat the condition.
This skin condition is very rare and can cause intense redness or discolouration and shedding of skin layers. It can be extremely painful and be life threatening in some cases.
Other symptoms of this could include severe itching, changes in heart rate and temperature, and dehydration. It is very important to seek immediate medical attention during an erythrodermic flare.
To diagnose psoriasis the healthcare provider examines the skin, scalp and nails. In some cases they may also take a biopsy to determine the type of psoriasis. There is no cure for psoriasis however the aim is to stop skin cells from growing quickly and removing scales.
There are various treatment options to help manage psoriasis symptoms. They could include creams or ointments (topical therapy), light therapy (phototherapy), oral medications and also lifestyle and home remedies.
Corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed therapy to treat mild to moderate conditions. Mild steroid ointments are for sensitive areas such as the face, skin folds, and for treating widespread patches. They may be applied once a day during flare-ups and alternate days or on weekends during remission. Oils, ointments, creams, lotions, and gels are the available forms.
A stronger steroid topical may be used for smaller or less sensitive, or tougher to treat areas. It is important not to use strong corticosteroids for the long term, as this can thin the skin.
Retinoids are available as gel or cream formulation and are applied once or twice daily. It can cause skin irritation and increased sensitivity to light.
Salicylic acid shampoo and scalp solution reduce the scalp psoriasis symptoms. They are available as a single product or with other topical therapies, as they prepare the scalp to absorb the medication.
Coal tar reduces scaling, itching, and inflammation. These are messy and can stain clothing, bedding, and may also have a strong odour.
This is the preferred first-line treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis symptoms. In this, the skin is exposed to some amounts of natural and artificial light. Daily sunlight exposure might improve psoriasis while being the safest way to use natural light.
In moderate to severe conditions, the doctor may prescribe oral/injected medications. These can be used in combination with topical therapy. Additionally, for small persistent patches, steroid injections may be suggested along with retinoid pills to reduce the production of skin cells.
Methotrexate is given weekly as a single oral dose. This decreases the production of skin cells and suppresses inflammation. However, side effects include upset stomach, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Individuals taking the medication long term need to have regular blood and liver function tests.
It is important to keep the skin hydrated through moisturizers to alleviate dryness and reduce itching. Individuals should also avoid triggers such as stress, certain medications and infections to help manage psoriasis symptoms.
It is important to seek medical care if the condition becomes severe or causes discomfort and pain. Furthermore, if psoriasis symptoms are not well controlled, a medical opinion should be consulted. If the appearance of the skin worsens and it doesn't improve with treatment, it would be best to speak to the doctor about trialing other treatments if the current one is not sufficient.
People should talk to their doctor about their psoriasis. A registered doctor can help provide the treatment options and recommend the modifications to lifestyle to live a comfortable life with psoriasis.
Symptoms, Treatment, Images and More - DermNet (dermnetnz.org)
Fizza is a registered pharmacist with APHRA and has been with Simple Online Doctor since 2023. With a Bachelor of Pharmacy and 8 plus years of experience as a pharmacist, Fizza has a strong passion to improve patient care via enhancing the quality and continuity of care delivered through digital health platforms.
Tyson is a clinical pharmacist in charge of the development and improvement of patient services. He provides clinical support to our team of healthcare professionals and ensures patient health and wellbeing are at the centre of all our services.
Last Reviewed : 02/05/2024
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