Psoriasis

What causes psoriasis?

Your skin cells turn over regularly. Old skin cells slough away, while newer skin cells rise to the surface. But with psoriasis, your body produces skin cells so rapidly that they don’t have ample time to shed. When this occurs, skin cells build up on top of one another, forming thickened patches called plaques. 

Though the exact cause of psoriasis isn’t well-understood, medical experts find that people living with psoriasis often have a problem with certain white blood cells, known as T cells and neutrophils. When these white blood cells become overactive, they’re constantly working to repair your skin, even though nothing is wrong. This is what leads to the buildup of skin cells. 

Psoriasis can run in families, and once you develop it, you have it for life, which is why it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms and ensure you’re managing it properly. 

What are the symptoms of psoriasis?

As many as 80-90% of cases of psoriasis are plaque psoriasis, which leads to thickened patches of skin, most commonly on your knees, elbows, lower back, or scalp. These patches may be raised and flaky. But you can also develop:

• Nail psoriasis, which leads to pitting and discoloration
• Inverse psoriasis, which leads to redness in the folds of your skin due to friction  
• Guttate psoriasis, which causes small scaling lesions on your trunk and extremities

Psoriatic arthritis is another psoriasis-related condition that leads to widespread inflammation, scaly skin, and sore, swollen joints. 

Since learning to manage psoriasis requires ongoing medical intervention, schedule an evaluation at Coastal Dermatology & Medspa if you think you have psoriasis or have been struggling with the skin condition for a long time. 

Is there an effective treatment for psoriasis?

Yes! Dr. Goyal is dedicated to helping you prevent agonizing psoriasis flare-ups and minimizing their severity. Your psoriasis treatment plan is tailored to you, whether your symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe, and can include:

• Vitamin D analog cream
• Clinical-strength moisturizers  
• Topical corticosteroid ointments 
• Oral prescription medications to slow skin cell growth
• Salicylic acid solutions (to promote sloughing of dead skin cells)

You may also benefit from FDA-cleared XTRAC® treatments, which is a form of rapid laser light therapy. 

Dr. Goyal knows how psoriasis can affect her patients who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. He can help you find an effective psoriasis treatment, even if you haven’t had success in the past.   

If you have psoriasis, you have options for treatment at Coastal Dermatology & Medspa. Book your psoriasis evaluation either online or over the phone today.