Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting more than 7.5 million adults 20 years or older in the US. Let’s discuss what psoriasis is, what triggers it, and treatments for psoriasis near you.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin condition that occurs when the immune system overreacts, leading to an excessive build-up of skin cells. It is a chronic condition that can go through cycles in its severity. While the root cause of psoriasis is still unknown, there are certain things that have been reported to trigger a flare-up.
What Are the Symptoms of Psoriasis?
The symptoms of psoriasis can vary from person to person but typically include red, inflamed skin lesions covered with a silvery-white scale. Psoriasis is often itchy and can be painful. In severe cases, the lesions can grow and merge, forming large areas of inflamed skin.
There are different types of psoriasis, including plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and pustular psoriasis.
What Triggers Psoriasis?
Several things can trigger a psoriasis outbreak, including but not limited to:
- Stress – Stress can cause the body to release hormones that can trigger a psoriasis outbreak.
- Skin injuries – Any injury to the skin, such as a cut, scrape, or sunburn, can also trigger a psoriasis outbreak.
- Infections – Certain infections, such as strep throat, can also trigger a psoriasis outbreak.
- Smoking – Smoking has been shown to worsen the symptoms of a psoriasis.
- Some medications – Some medications, such as beta blockers, lithium, and certain antimalarials, can trigger a psoriasis outbreak.
How Is Psoriasis Treated?
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for psoriasis, as the severity and types are individualized. Fortunately, there are various treatments available to control the symptoms of psoriasis.
Some of the most common treatments for psoriasis include:
- Topical treatments – These are applied to the skin. The active ingredient is usually corticosteroid, which decreases inflammation.
- Phototherapy – This involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light to help control the symptoms of psoriasis.
- Oral or injected medications – This type of therapy is used if other treatments have not worked. These medications include injectable steroids, retinoid pills, and immune suppressants like cyclosporine.
While treatments can alleviate flare-ups, in the long term, patients focus on preventing flare-ups by avoiding psoriasis triggers. This may include quitting smoking, lowering stress by doing yoga or meditating, and switching the medications that are making your psoriasis worse. Talk to your doctor about how you can alter your lifestyle to avoid triggers so you can experience fewer flare-ups.
Psoriasis Treatment Near Me
If you are suffering from psoriasis, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our dermatology experts at Georgia Skincare and Aesthetic Dermatology. We have been serving the skin care needs of the greater Athens, GA, community since 2007 and have a team of over 60 providers, including board-certified dermatologists, certified physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and aestheticians.
To schedule an appointment with us, call us today at 706-543-5858, or visit our website and fill out our new patient appointment request form here.