Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder affecting more than 4.5 million men and women. It tends to come and go unpredictably. Psoriasis is not infectious and does not result in scarring. It is a long-lasting skin disorder which develops when your immune system sends aulty signals which tell your skin cells to grow too fast.

Psoriasis is a genetic skin disease, so people are more likely to develop psoriasis than others if there is someone else in their family who has it. Psoriasis is often triggered by events like throat infection, stress or an injury to the skin, or dry weather. There is no psoriasis treatment that results in a permanent cure. However, there are effective psoriasis treatments that can control the signs and symptoms of this condition.

When you have psoriasis, your new skin cells form in days instead of weeks, and your body cannot shed these excess cells. The rapid cell reproduction then piles up on the surface of your skin resulting in red or pink areas of raised, dry, silvery patches or thickened plaques of raised skin. It might also have the appearance of flattened bumps or dry skin with large flakes.

Psoriasis commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, but it can be found anywhere on the body. It is also common in areas of repeated rubbing and constant use.

If you suffer from this frustrating skin condition and wish to start psoriasis treatment, call our Pasadena office at (626) 793.7790 or contact us here.

Types of Psoriasis

There are several different types of psoriasis, and some people get more than one type. Some patients start with one type of psoriasis but it can later change to a different type.

• Plaque or psoriasis vulgaris—The most common type of psoriasis characterized by thick, red patches of skin covered by flaky, silver-white scales.
• Guttate Psoriasis—Small, pink-red spots on the skin.
• Inverse Psoriasis (also known as Flexural Psoriasis or Intertriginous Psoriasis)—Skin redness and irritation on the armpits, groin, navel, buttocks, and in between overlapping skin.
• Pustular Psoriasis—White blisters surrounded by red, irritated skin, and small, liquid-filled, yellowish blisters.
• Erythrodermic Psoriasis—Very intense skin redness covering a large area.
• Palmoplantar Psoriasis—A separate entity is often affecting the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

About 80% of people living with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis can appear slowly or suddenly. In many cases, the condition goes away and flares up again repeatedly over time.

Symptoms of psoriasis may include:

• Itching where the psoriasis patches are located
• Joint pain or arthritis
• Nail changes
• Severe dandruff
• Genital lesions

The first symptoms of plaque psoriasis appear as very small red dots. These eruptions slowly get larger, producing a silvery white surface scale that sheds easily. The patches are typically spread over wide expanses of skin and are intensely itchy, painful, dry or cracking, and swollen.

Psoriasis Treatments

Thanks to ongoing research, there are many psoriasis treatments available today. Some people see their skin clear completely after their psoriasis treatment.

Every psoriasis treatment has benefits, drawbacks, and possible side effects, but our dermatologists at Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis. We can help you find a psoriasis treatment that works for you and fits your lifestyle.

Some topical or skin applied medications include:

• Topical corticosteroids
• Vitamin D analogue creams such as Dovonex
• Topical retinoids such as Tazorac
• Moisturizers
• Topical immunomodulators such as Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus

Some oral medications useful in treating psoriasis are:

• Acitretin or Soriatane
• Cyclosporine
• Methotrexate
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Oral Prednisone
• Otezla

There is no known way to prevent psoriasis, but keeping the skin clean and moist and avoiding your specific psoriasis triggers may help reduce the number of flare-ups. Although your dermatologist recommends daily baths or showers, you shouldn’t scrub too hard since this can irritate the skin and trigger a psoriasis attack. Your dermatologist will usually begin with the mildest therapy and work up to the most effective psoriasis treatment to help you clear up your psoriasis.

Psoriasis Treatment – Biologics

Biologics are a type of treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis that’s delivered via injection or IV. These drugs are protein-based and created using live cultures. Unlike oral medications that enter all the body systems, biologics target special parts of the immune system. This form of psoriasis treatment blocks specific types of cells or proteins in the immune system that are known to be involved in the development of psoriasis. They are often combined with other treatments.

Some of the most common biologics include:

• Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade, which all block TNF-alpha, a protein that causes inflammation in the body. For people with psoriasis, there is an excessive amount of TNF-alpha that causes the condition’s rapid cell growth.
• Stelara targets specific proteins called IL-12 and IL-23 that are known to cause the inflammation of psoriasis. A doctor or nurse at our center injects this drug under the skin.
• Cosentyx inhibits a particular protein called IL-17A that causes the plaque associated with psoriasis when there is too much of it in the immune system. We inject under the skin at our center like Stelara, Cosentyx.

Narrow Band UV Psoriasis Treatment

UV psoriasis treatment is sometimes called phototherapy and light therapy. These psoriasis treatments essentially expose the skin to therapeutic ultraviolet light. Repetition is the key. With regular treatments, the UVB rays slow the cell growth which leads to psoriasis eruptions.

Narrow band UV psoriasis treatment refers to a small range of ultraviolet light. There are broad band psoriasis treatments as well, but narrow band tends to work more quickly and last longer. The light is administered in a small booth several times per week for short periods. This psoriasis treatment can cause redness and itching for a short time after the first appointments.

We often combine UV psoriasis treatment with other types of treatments. Note that the narrow band UV psoriasis treatment is not the same as tanning, and tanning beds are not a substitute for an effective psoriasis treatment.

If you suffer from this frustrating skin disease and wish to start psoriasis treatment, call our Pasadena office at (626) 793.7790 or contact us here.

Psoriasis FAQs

What causes psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic, often hereditary autoimmune condition that causes new skin cells to form faster than your body can shed them. People with psoriasis have an overactive immune system that mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells. Doctors have yet to pinpoint a cause, but most believe it is due to a combination of genetic, immune, and environmental factors.

What triggers psoriasis?

Several triggers can exacerbate psoriasis symptoms, including stress, infections, specific medications, smoking, alcohol consumption, dry weather, and skin injuries. If you have psoriasis, avoiding these triggers may help clear your skin and improve your quality of life.

Is psoriasis fungal?

No, psoriasis is not a fungal infection. It is an autoimmune illness that causes rapid skin cell turnover and characteristic symptoms like red or pink areas of raised, dry, silvery patches or thickened plaques of raised skin.

What is the cure for psoriasis?

There is currently no permanent solution for psoriasis, but you can manage it with treatments like oral and topical medications, injectable biologics, phototherapy, and lifestyle changes to reduce symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Can psoriasis go away on its own?

As a chronic condition, psoriasis typically does not go away by itself. While your symptoms may improve or go into remission for periods, ongoing management is usually necessary to control the disease.

Is psoriasis an allergic reaction?

No, psoriasis is not an allergy. It is an autoimmune disease.

Though autoimmune diseases and allergic reactions both involve an overactive immune system response, the difference is that psoriasis results from your immune system attacking your body from within, while an allergy involves your immune system reacting to otherwise harmless environmental substances like pollen and pet dander.

Can stress cause psoriasis?

Yes, stress can trigger or exacerbate psoriasis by causing the release of hormones like cortisol, resulting in heightened inflammation and immune system dysregulation. Stress can also disrupt your skin barrier function and delay the healing of psoriatic lesions, making it more challenging to manage your symptoms.

Managing stress with relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices can control your psoriasis symptoms and improve your overall well-being.

Does psoriasis spread?

Psoriasis is not contagious, so you cannot give it to someone else. However, the condition can spread to new areas of your body, especially if you leave it untreated.

Can sunlight worsen psoriasis?

Moderate sunlight exposure benefits many people with psoriasis by slowing down skin cell growth and reducing inflammation. However, excessive sun exposure and sunburn can worsen symptoms, so you should find a balance and always protect your skin with sunscreen.