Psoriasis
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a condition that affects the skin, causing thickened red areas, often with a silvery, scaly appearance. This thick scaling is due to an increase in the number of skin cells. Between one in 25 and one in 50 people are affected by it.
Most often the skin on the elbows and knees is involved, but psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp, nails and mouth.
The exact cause of psoriasis is not known. It seems to get worse in many people during times of stress or if they have an infection.
What treatments are available?
There are many types of treatment for psoriasis, including coal tar, and steroid and moisturising preparations, which come in various forms. Ointments are usually helpful, although during the summer your skin may get warm and sweaty and cause the ointment to rub off. Creams aren't as thick as ointments and can be rubbed into the skin so that they don't show. Solutions are clear liquids that are especially useful for the scalp.
Since topical treatment is absorbed better through damp skin, putting it on after a shower or a bath is helpful. If you have psoriasis on your scalp, treatment should be applied after shampooing. Remember to rub the solution into your scalp, don't just put it on your hair.
The scales of psoriasis usually improve almost immediately after beginning treatment. It may take about 2-6 weeks for the affected areas of skin to return to a more normal thickness, but the redness may last several months. While psoriasis will improve, it may not completely go away.
After you've been using a certain type of medication for a prolonged period, it may not be as effective as it once was. If this happens it may be necessary to try a change of treatment.
People with more severe psoriasis may need other types of therapy, such as ultraviolet light therapy (phototherapy), oral medicines or injections.
Last Reviewed: 15 December 2008
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