PSORIASIS

Psoriasis is a skin disease that occurs when skin cells begin to reproduce quicker than normal. This skin disease is chronic and usually painful, and is characterized by round, reddish and scaly patches of skin. Psoriasis mainly occurs on the feet, knees, elbows, hands and scalp.

Normally, skin cells take between 28 and 30 days to mature and fall of your body. Psoriatic skin cells mature in around 3 to 4 days, and instead of falling off, they pile up and form the lesions that are characteristic of this disease.

There is more than one type of psoriasis, including:

Plaque – This is the most common form. It is characterized by red, inflamed and raised lesions covered by patches of silvery, scaly skin.
Guttate – This type of psoriasis is characterized by small dot–like lesions.
Pustular – The symptoms of this type of psoriasis include intense, scaly skin and weeping lesions.
Inverse – Inverse psoriasis is characterized by intense inflammation in the affected areas.
Erythrodermic – The symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis include very red skin and the intense shedding of skin cells.

WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PSORIASIS?

Once a dermatologist has diagnosed you with psoriasis, there are a number of available treatment options. These include biologic agents, topical skin care creams, and oral medications.