Psoriasis is a chronic, non-communicable autoimmune disease that affects the skin and joints.
It usually causes redness, scaly spots that appear on the skin.
These scaly spots, caused by psoriasis, are called psoriatic plaques (areas of inflammation caused by excessive skin production).
The skin accumulates rapidly in these areas and takes on a silvery-white hue.
They most commonly occur on the elbows and knees, but can affect any part of the body, including the scalp and genitals.
Unlike eczema, psoriasis is more likely to occur on the inside of the joints.
It is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, affecting about 2% of the population. Men and women are equally affected, with onset ages ranging from 20 to 35 years.
It occurs in 75% of patients before the age of 40, but generally psoriasis can occur at any age.
There are many forms of psoriasis. The most common is plaque psoriasis (common psoriasis), which occurs in about 80% of all patients with psoriasis.
Other forms of psoriasis are: guttate, erythrodermic, pustular.
Psoriasis presents a variety of images.
All psoriatic lesions have, to varying degrees, three main characteristics:
Squamae
Thickening (infiltration)
Inflammation (erythema)
How is Psoriasis Diagnosed?
To diagnose psoriasis, the doctor must perform a physical examination and gather information about the patient's history. The diagnosis rarely requires histological confirmation and is almost always based on the clinical features associated with psoriasis: well-defined, red, scaly plaques typically found on the elbows, knees, skull, and gluteal area.
Some patients may experience damage to the palms, soles of the feet, or the genitals.
Occasionally, signs of psoriasis may resemble the symptoms of other skin conditions, such as seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus, and rosacea. To rule out these cases, your doctor may perform a skin biopsy or other laboratory tests.
Treatment of psoriasis
All available treatments help in the cleansing, total or partial, of the skin rash. There is currently no radical cure for psoriasis, as the cause of the disease is unknown. The treatment of psoriasis varies and is individualized per patient.
Treatments for psoriasis can generally be divided into the following categories:
Topical
Phototherapy
Systemic
Biological
Consult your dermatologist to guide you on what is the most appropriate treatment for you.