Most of us probably think of psoriasis as being just a skin condition, but it actually begins under the skin and is a chronic disease of the immune system. Psoriasis symptoms can range from mild to severe for each affected person.

Before we take a look at some of the available treatment options and strategies that can help psoriasis sufferers, let’s learn more about what causes it.

Did you know that your body takes about 28 to 30 days to produce new skin cells and shed the old ones?

That’s the pace for normal skin. But if you have plaque psoriasis, your immune system is overactive, triggering skin inflammation and causing new cells to be produced and pushed to the skin’s surface in just three to four days — instead of about four weeks. Your body can’t shed the old cells fast enough, so they actually pile on top of each other, resulting in the red, thick, itchy and flaky patches called plaques.

Psoriasis is sometimes confused with atopic dermatitis or eczema, which is an inflammation in the skin associated with asthma, allergies and hypersensitivity disorders. It is characterized by red, inflamed, cracked or blistered skin, but not the white, scaly, dead skin and plaques characteristic of psoriasis.

Psoriasis Causes

While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, we believe that genetics, the environment and your own immune system are all factors contributing to the embarrassing, unsightly and painful condition.

If you have psoriasis, it’s possible that someone else in your family has or may have had it, too. In fact, one out of every three people with psoriasis reports that a relative also has it. More people than you might think — up to 10 percent of the general population — may carry the gene for psoriasis, while only 2 to 3 percent actually develop it.

How could those of us who have psoriasis be so lucky, right?

The following environmental triggers have been observed by doctors to impact psoriasis symptoms:

• Infections (strep throat and thrush, etc.)
• Injuries to your skin (cuts, bites, sunburn, etc.)
• Medications (including lithium and quinidine)
• Stress (no matter the cause)

Our immune systems are meant to protect our bodies from intruders like viruses. But sometimes, our immune system attacks our bodies’ own healthy cells instead. If you have psoriasis, your immune system is causing inflammation inside your body. This results in the symptoms of psoriasis.

Two other chronic diseases associated with psoriasis include psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s disease, and you should be under a doctor’s care if you have any of the three in combination. People who have psoriasis also have a greater likelihood of having type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and ulcerative colitis. Again, it’s important to speak with your doctor if you have any of these conditions in addition to psoriasis.

Remember, psoriasis isn’t contagious. You can’t “catch” it from or “give” it to someone. But it can range from mild (covering less than 3 percent of your body) to severe (covering more than 10 percent of your body).

Psoriasis Symptoms

Everyone who has psoriasis doesn’t experience all of the symptoms. The most common symptoms include:

• Burning, itching or sore skin
• Dry skin that sometimes cracks and bleeds
• Pitted nails that may also separate from the nail bed
• Red, raised, inflamed areas or red spots
• Scaly, sometimes silvery, plaques

The knees, elbows and torso are the most common areas of the body for psoriasis, but it also can appear on the face, hands, feet, nails and genitals, as well as in skin folds. You also may have psoriatic arthritis if you have pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints. Talk with your doctor if you have these symptoms.

Psoriasis Diagnosis

A dermatologist can usually diagnose psoriasis with a physical examination of your skin, scalp and nails. Once diagnosed, he or she will prescribe one or more treatments, depending on the severity, location and type of psoriasis. In some cases, a dermatologist may also order other testing prior to diagnosis.

Psoriasis Treatments

The good news is that while there is no cure for psoriasis, it is treatable. Most people are able to manage their psoriasis symptoms with one or more of the following prescribed treatments:

• Biologics, which are administered by injection or infusion to target and help block parts of the immune system.
• Light therapy, which involves using special lamps to shine UV rays directly on psoriasis plaques to inhibit cell growth, and/or laser treatment.
• Systemics, which are injected or taken orally to fight the underlying cause of psoriasis throughout the body.
• Topicals, which are applied to the skin as a cream, ointment, gel or foam to slow the growth of skin cells. This treatment is generally the first a newly diagnosed psoriasis patient will receive.

Living With Psoriasis

For most people, psoriasis is a lifelong condition. However, there are often cycles where their psoriasis flares up and then almost disappears. Living with psoriasis may be a challenge, but new treatments are always being explored by pharmaceutical companies. Plus, your dermatologist and pharmacist may have other recommendations to help you manage your symptoms. Your first inclination may be to hide psoriasis under clothing, but that can create sweat and moisture that further irritates your skin.

What Else Can You Do?

Eat healthy and keep a food diary to help identify any foods that might be contributing to your flare-ups. Manage your stress, which can also trigger and worsen psoriasis symptoms, and just take time to relax, doing the things you enjoy. Don’t let psoriasis keep you from living life to the fullest.

For a referral to a dermatologist on Tanner’s medical staff, call 770-214-CARE or visit Find a Provider.