PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a chronic, scaly skin disorder characterized by frequent flare-ups and remissions. It can affect the skin anywhere on the body, the scalp, or the nails. Psoriasis begins in late childhood or young adulthood and continues throughout life. There is no cure but symptoms can be treated. You are more likely to have psoriasis if someone in your family has psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis, or you have rheumatoid arthritis. You are more likely to have a flare-up if you have had a local injury or you are under stress or live in a cold climate.
Symptoms may include:
Raised areas with red borders and covered with large white scales. The skin can crack and become painful.
Itching
Joint pain
What your doctor can do:
Diagnose psoriasis, usually by the appearance of the lesions, and if needed, the results of a skin biopsy (taking a sample of tissue to study).
Determine best treatment based on the type and extent of psoriasis and the affect the disease has on your lifestyle.
Order antihistamines to relieve itching
Prescribe any of several medications to decrease inflammation or scaling. These may include ointments containing coal tar, topical cortisone drugs under plastic dressings; or immunosuppressive drugs for severest cases
Prescribe a combination of ultraviolet light and medications.
Prescribe isotretinoin or oral methotrexate if you have pustular psoriasis.
What you can do:
Move to a warm climate, if possible, since psoriasis is worse with cold weather.
Maintain good skin hygiene with daily baths or showers
Avoid skin injury or dryness; avoid harsh scrubbing and harsh soaps.
Use non-prescription cleansers and coal tar shampoos or cortisone for scales
Expose skin to moderate amounts of sunlight as often as possible.
Try oatmeal baths to loosen scales: use 1 cup in a tub of warm water
For more information contact the Psoriasis Foundation @ 1-800-723-9166
Contact your doctor if pustules erupt on the skin, along with fever, muscle aches and fatigue, if you show signs of an infection at the site of psoriasis (warmth, drainage, increased
Psoriasis is a chronic, scaly skin disorder characterized by frequent flare-ups and remissions. It can affect the skin anywhere on the body, the scalp, or the nails. Psoriasis begins in late childhood or young adulthood and continues throughout life. There is no cure but symptoms can be treated. You are more likely to have psoriasis if someone in your family has psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis, or you have rheumatoid arthritis. You are more likely to have a flare-up if you have had a local injury or you are under stress or live in a cold climate.
Symptoms may include:
Raised areas with red borders and covered with large white scales. The skin can crack and become painful.
Itching
Joint pain
What your doctor can do:
Diagnose psoriasis, usually by the appearance of the lesions, and if needed, the results of a skin biopsy (taking a sample of tissue to study).
Determine best treatment based on the type and extent of psoriasis and the affect the disease has on your lifestyle.
Order antihistamines to relieve itching
Prescribe any of several medications to decrease inflammation or scaling. These may include ointments containing coal tar, topical cortisone drugs under plastic dressings; or immunosuppressive drugs for severest cases
Prescribe a combination of ultraviolet light and medications.
Prescribe isotretinoin or oral methotrexate if you have pustular psoriasis.
What you can do:
Move to a warm climate, if possible, since psoriasis is worse with cold weather.
Maintain good skin hygiene with daily baths or showers
Avoid skin injury or dryness; avoid harsh scrubbing and harsh soaps.
Use non-prescription cleansers and coal tar shampoos or cortisone for scales
Expose skin to moderate amounts of sunlight as often as possible.
Try oatmeal baths to loosen scales: use 1 cup in a tub of warm water
For more information contact the Psoriasis Foundation @ 1-800-723-9166
Contact your doctor if pustules erupt on the skin, along with fever, muscle aches and fatigue, if you show signs of an infection at the site of psoriasis (warmth, drainage, increased