Psoriasis

Psoriasis (pronounced suh-rai-uh-sus) is a fairly common skin condition. It causes patches of your skin to become flaky, red, and sometimes itchy. It can also leave you with patches of scaly skin.

These patches are most commonly found on the elbows, scalp, knees, and lower back. They are caused by an overgrowth of skin cells, which build up to create flaky and crusty skin.

Psoriasis is a chronic condition, meaning that there is no cure. Fortunately, many available treatment options can help to control flare-ups. Avoiding your triggers is also beneficial.

It’s most likely to develop between your 20s and 30s, or later on in your 50s and 60s. However, psoriasis can develop at any age - even during childhood.

Is psoriasis contagious?

Psoriasis cannot be passed on to others. If you have it, you can’t give it to someone else. Therefore, no - it is not contagious.

Psoriasis is characterised by red, flaky, and scaly skin. It usually shows up in small or large patches on the elbows, knees, scalp, or back.

Psoriasis varies on different skin colours too, meaning that some people don’t recognise the condition as easily.

On white skin, patches are predominantly pink or red in colour. On darker skin tones, patches can range from light to dark brown, purple, or grey.

How is psoriasis different from eczema?

Eczema (pronounced ek-suh-muh) is another common skin condition that is easily confused with psoriasis. Both conditions cause itchy, flaky skin. They are also treated in a similar way (with either topical creams or over-the-counter relief).

The following table outlines how they differ from each other:

If you’re not sure which condition is affecting you, it’s best to seek advice from your doctor or a dermatologist (a doctor who specialises in skin).

1. Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type of psoriasis. It causes thick patches of dry, flaky skin (called plaques) to form on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp - although they can occur in other places.
2. Guttate psoriasis: This causes smaller patches across the skin, usually no bigger than 1 cm in diameter. This type of psoriasis is likely to disappear within a few weeks, though it can develop into plaque psoriasis. It’s more common in teens and children. It can also happen as a result of a throat infection.
3. Inverse psoriasis: This kind of psoriasis occurs in between folds of the skin, such as the armpits or beneath the breasts. Often it is made worse in hot weather, due to friction and sweating.
4. Scalp psoriasis: This condition refers to plaque psoriasis occurring on the scalp. It causes some no trouble, whilst others may find it highly itchy and frustrating. In severe cases, it might cause hair loss.
5. Nail psoriasis: Almost 50% of psoriasis sufferers will experience the condition affecting their nails. This can cause fingernails to grow abnormally, or have small dents and pits.
6. Palmoplantar psoriasis: This causes small white bumps on the palms of the hand and/or soles of the feet, which usually peel or fall off every few weeks.
7. Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is the rarest and most severe form of psoriasis, where lesions and scaling cover most of the body’s surface. It can cause intense itching or burning and may require medical attention.

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Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, which happens when the immune system malfunctions. In this case, you overproduce skin cells much quicker than you normally would.

As it’s a genetic condition, you are more likely to get it if someone in your family already has it.

However, some things can act as a trigger for psoriasis - making the condition flare up or worsen. Below are 8 possible causes for your psoriasis outbreaks:

• stress
• infection, especially throat or skin infections
• skin injuries, such as sunburn, bug bites, or cuts and scrapes
• some medications, including antimalarials and high blood-pressure drugs
• smoking and heavy drinking
• hormone changes, including those that take place during the menstrual cycle, or puberty
• cold weather, due to a lack of sunlight and humidity

Whilst there is no way of preventing psoriasis from developing, there are several things that can help prevent your condition from becoming severe. Along with avoiding your triggers, it’s important to:

• Keep your skin well moisturised, especially after showers and baths (which can have a drying effect on the skin). Use mild soap which contains additional oils and warm water instead of hot.
• Stay a healthy weight, as being overweight or obese can worsen your condition.
• Expose your skin to small amounts of sunlight or UV light on a regular basis, as this can improve symptoms. Make sure not to expose yourself too much as this can have the opposite effect.
• Limit or cut out any smoking and drinking habits. If you’re finding it difficult to stop smoking, try speaking to your doctor or seek help online. Some prescription medicines such as Champix can be really helpful.

There are a variety of different treatment options for psoriasis, depending on the severity of the condition.

Mild to moderate cases are usually recommended topical treatments, including creams, lotions, ointments, solutions, or foams. These are likely to contain either corticosteroids, retinoids, or vitamin D.

Other types of treatment include:

• Methotrexate (this slows down the growth of skin cells)
• immunosuppressants (these are used in severe cases and suppress the immune system)
• injected or oral therapies
• phototherapy (a doctor will shine UV light on your skin)
• biologic response modifiers (a medicine which is injected to help improve inflammation)
• Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors (these reduce skin cell regrowth by targeting certain enzymes)

At euroClinix, we are able to offer the following products:

• Betnovate (Betamethasone)
• Elocon
• Diprosalic
• Dermovate
• Hydrocortisone

At euroClinix, you can purchase topical therapies for the treatment of psoriasis online - without the extra hassle of booking a doctor’s appointment.

Simply answer the quick medical questions to complete your free consultation. Once one of our doctors has assessed if you are suitable for your chosen treatment, it will be sent out to you with free delivery if approved.