Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. Skin cells are triggered to grow at an abnormally fast rate. It most often develops on the elbows, knees, or scalp. However, it can affect any location, including the nails.
Psoriasis is not something you “catch,” and it is not infectious. It appears as a result of genetics and “triggers,” such as stress, medications, injury to skin and infections.
Psoriasis is associated with other systemic illnesses. About 11 percent of psoriasis patients have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, but 30 percent of people with psoriasis will eventually develop psoriatic arthritis. It causes redness, swelling, and pain around the joints and may eventually cause permanent joint damage.
Psoriasis is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
There are more treatments available for psoriasis than ever before. They include topical medications, laser treatment with ultraviolet light, ultraviolet light phototherapy, oral systemic medications and injectable biologics aimed to target the precise points of the immune system that create psoriatic disease. There are numerous medications in the pipeline, and this remains one of the most fruitful areas of research and development in dermatology.
If you would like more information or to schedule an appointment to discuss psoriasis, please contact us by calling the office at 706-691-7079. Savannah River Dermatology is located at 575 Furys Ferry Rd, Martinez, GA 30907.
