Psoriasis

Avee Naidoo
Dec 30, 2023
2 min read

by Dr. Avee Naidoo (2023).

What is It?

Psoriasis is a common and chronic skin condition associated with the formation of thick, red, scaly, and often itchy, patches and plaques. It is associated with an overactive immune system in the skin.

What causes psoriasis?

While the exact cause of psoriasis is not fully understood, it is believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Most often, a cause cannot be identified.

Psoriasis onset and severity has been linked to alcohol consumption, increased BMI (being overweight), smoking, and stress. However, not everyone who smokes, drinks alcohol or is overweight will develop psoriasis.

Is psoriasis contagious?

Fortunately, it is not. It is not infectious; therefore, you cannot spread it to or get it from another person.

What does it look and feel like?

Psoriasis commonly presents as plaque psoriasis, where individuals have raised, red patches covered with a silvery to white scale. Often, the skin overlying the elbows and knees are affected. Other locations commonly affected include the lower legs, lower back, scalp and around the belly button (umbilicus). The white flakes are often a source of embarrassment for patients, as it can shed onto clothing.

Are there any associated conditions?

Psoriasis can occasionally be associated with arthritis in the small joints of your hands and feet.

People with psoriasis can have a higher risk of experiencing other health problems, including:

Heart Disease
Obesity
Type II Diabetes
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Anxiety or Depression

Does psoriasis have a cure?

There is no cure. However, there are many effective treatments available to keep the skin disease under good control. Spontaneous (or sudden, unexpected) clearance of psoriasis may occur in some people.

Let’s Talk about Treatment…

Managing psoriasis involves a multifaceted approach, tailored to the severity and type of symptoms.

For this condition, we recommend regular use of moisturizers, especially those that include urea (e.g. Eucerin Complete Repair) and/or salicylic acid (e.g. CeRave SA), as this can help with the scale.
In most patients, topical treatments, such as anti-inflammatories (corticosteroid creams) and vitamin D, can help reduce inflammation, which help with itch and clear plaques.
For some patients, ultraviolet light treatment (phototherapy) under medical supervision can offer relief

For moderate-to-severe cases, oral or injectable medications may be necessary. These medications modulate the immune system to reduce inflammation and control the underlying causes of psoriasis.

| Psoriasis is a manageable chronic, condition. Over the past decade, many new | therapeutics have arisen, which are very effective in controlling the condition and | allowing patients to optimize their quality of life.