29th October –

World Psoriasis Day.

Psoriasis causes skin cells to grow too fast and accumulate resulting in red, scaly patches. Lesions can come and go, and cover varying amounts of skin surface, triggering itching, pain and/or burning.

Facts about Psoriasis

• A chronic autoimmune disease estimated to affect about 2.5-3 per cent of the world population; that is about 125 million people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status.
• Psoriasis often starts between 15 and 25, but can develop at any age
• About 1 in 3 people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which affects the joints, tendons and ligaments.
• Psoriasis is also linked with co-morbidities such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.

What are symptoms of Psoriasis?

The signs and symptoms of psoriasis can vary depending on the type of psoriasis. The 5 most common symptoms include:

• Rashes or patches of red, inflamed skin often covered with loose, silver-colored scales. In severe cases, the plaques will grow and merge into one another, covering large areas
• Itchy, painful skin that can crack or bleed
• Small areas of bleeding where the involved skin is scratched
• Problems with your fingernails and toenails, including discoloration and pitting. The nails may also begin to crumble or detach from the nail bed.
• Scaly plaques on the scalp

Psoriasis can also be associated with Psoriatic Arthritis which causes achy, swollen joints. Between 10% and 30% of people with psoriasis have painful joint condition.

Diagnosis of Psoriasis

In most cases, diagnosis of psoriasis is fairly straightforward.

• Physical exam and medical history. Your doctor usually can diagnose psoriasis by taking your medical history and examining your skin, scalp and nails.
• Skin biopsy. Rarely, your doctor may take a small sample of skin (biopsy). He or she will likely first apply a local anesthetic. The sample is examined under a microscope to determine the exact type of psoriasis and to rule out other disorders.

Treatment

Psoriasis treatments reduce inflammation and clear skin. It can be divided into three main types:

• Topical treatments
• Light therapy
• Systemic medications

We at Amber Clinics provide comprehensive treatment for management and cure of Psoriasis. Our Psoriasis support group is a patient education forum.

Know more about how you can overcome the burden of Psoriasis. For consultation https://www.amberclinics.com/doctors/dr--srikumar-goturu/100