PSORIASIS

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a fairly common skin disorder affecting approximately 2 million Americans. While the exact cause of psoriasis is not known, it appears to be the result of defective skin growth.

What causes psoriasis?

In psoriasis, skin grows faster than normal and forms red patches with much scaling. The scalp, elbows and knees are favorite areas of involvement, although psoriasis can involve almost any part of the skin. Fortunately, psoriasis is only a skin condition and does not affect the general health of the patient. (Very rarely, in severe cased, there may be some arthritis or joint discomfort.) Psoriasis is a problem because it is unsightly. Psoriasis is not contagious. Most patients with psoriasis have one or more blood relatives with this disorder indicating that heredity plays a role.

Psoriasis usually begins in young adulthood, although it can start in childhood or first begin in old age. Psoriasis is often mild and just affects a few areas. However, sometimes-large areas of the body may become involved. In general, psoriasis is very unpredictable, it may even spontaneously clear and disappear for months or years.

What is the treatment for psoriasis?

In spite of a great deal of research, we do not have a cure for psoriasis. The present day treatment of psoriasis is unsatisfactory, since medications are only effective while they are being used. The best medical science has to offer is temporary control of this disorder. We are only treating the present psoriasis you have. Treatment will not prevent new lesions. Psoriasis is usually treated with ointments applied directly to the skin. These skin medications generally contain tar, anthralin, salicylic acid or cortisone-type compounds. Whatever type of preparation you will be using should be applied very sparingly and massaged in well.

Two other methods are sometimes used in treating psoriasis. When there are only a few lesions of psoriasis, it is sometimes best to inject very small amounts of a cortisone-type suspension directly in the skin. Material injected in the skin is effective for several months and the treatment can be repeated when the psoriasis recurs. Injection of individual skin areas is feasible only when there are few patches of psoriasis since only the injected patches show improvement. In patients with very severe psoriasis, Methotrexate is sometimes given by mouth. Methotrexate is a powerful drug, which must be used with great caution. It affects cellular reproduction and slows down the abnormally fast growth of skin in psoriasis. In addition a new mode of therapy "PUVA" is available, if your psoriasis is severe enough. We do this therapy at the St. Mary's Medical Center Psoriasis Center.

Helpful Hints:
* Exposure to sunlight or artificial sun lamp in moderate dosage is often very helpful. Do not get a burn since psoriasis tends to localize in skin areas, which have been injured.
* Be sure to get enough rest. Psoriasis is not caused by "nerves" but tends to be worse when a person is under pressure and not getting enough rest.

* Diet does not affect psoriasis, except that drinking alcoholic beverages almost always makes it worse. It is recommended that patients with psoriasis either abstain or sharply limit their consumption of alcoholic beverages.

* When psoriasis affects the scalp, frequent shampooing is beneficial. A tar shampoo, such as ALA SEB-T and scalp lotion such as ALA SCALP are often prescribed. Psoriasis will not cause hair loss or baldness.

While psoriasis is an unsightly nuisance, please remember it is nothing more than that and will not prevent you from leading a full active and happy life. There is much ongoing research with psoriasis and new medications that are beneficial and being tested at this time.