Psoriasis

Personalized Care for Your Chronic Condition

More than 7 1/2 million people are affected by psoriasis in the United States alone. Most commonly found on the scalp, knees, and elbows, this skin disease is characterized by itchy, red, scaly patches. Psoriasis usually occurs in cycles, with flare-ups occurring for a few months or weeks and then going into remission.

The expert dermatologic providers at Rochester Regional Health are well-versed in the many sub-types of psoriasis and will be by your side through diagnosis and treatment.

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What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is both a chronic skin condition and an autoimmune disorder. Thick, raised, dry patches on your skin are the most common sign of psoriasis. These patches tend to itch and be covered with a silvery-white coating called “scale.”

Psoriasis is not contagious, but it is hereditary, leading experts to believe there is a genetic component involved. We do not know what causes psoriasis, but it is believed to be aided by abnormally fast-growing and shedding skin cells. If your skin cells are multiplying quickly, they’ll cause your skin to shed every 3-4 days.

Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis symptoms differ based on the type of psoriasis you have, where it appears on your body and the overall amount of psoriasis you have. Symptoms may include:

Patches of red, raised skin
Thicker than usual nails, or nails that separate from the nail beds
Small spots of red skin
Pus-containing blisters (called pustules) all over the body or found on your palms or the soles of your feet

Many skin conditions exhibit symptoms similar to psoriasis. The knowledgeable dermatologists at Rochester Regional Health will help you find an accurate diagnosis to ensure we’re treating your whole body.

Psoriasis Types

The types of psoriasis include erythrodermic, guttate, inverse, nail, plaque, pustular, and pustular generalized. Each has varying symptoms and severity, and some are serious and life-threatening. Learn more…

Erythrodermic psoriasis is life-threatening and serious and requires immediate medical care. Please call 911 if you are or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms:

●      Chills, fever, and looking extremely ill

●      Muscle weakness, a rapid pulse, or a severe itch

●      The skin on most of the body looks burned

Most people with erythrodermic psoriasis already have a different type of psoriasis. Before developing erythrodermic psoriasis, people often notice that their psoriasis is worsening, or not improving with treatment.
Guttate psoriasis is characterized by tiny bumps that appear on the skin suddenly. Typically, these bumps will cover much of the arms, legs, and torso, but they may also develop on your ears, face, or scalp. Regardless of location, these bumps are usually:

●      Salmon-colored or pink

●      Small and scaly

●      Temporary - they should clear in weeks or months without treatment

Guttate psoriasis often develops in children and young adults who have had an infection recently, and then disappears when the infection clears. It’s possible you’ll never experience it again, or that you’ll have it for life. Your Rochester Regional Dermatology provider will help you determine what, if any, treatment is right for your guttate psoriasis.
Inverse psoriasis develops in areas where your skin touches other skin, like your armpits, the crease of your buttocks, or your genitals. The symptoms of inverse psoriasis include:

●      Little, if any, silvery-white coating

●      Smooth, red patches of skin that appear raw

●      Sore or painful skin

This type of psoriasis is also called intertriginous or flexural psoriasis.
Psoriasis doesn’t always affect just the skin–it can be seen elsewhere on the body. People with psoriasis (of any type) often find changes to their toenails and fingernails. You may see:

●      A nail lifting up so it’s no longer attached

●      Build-up of skin cells beneath nails

●      Crumbling, rough nails

●      Nail pits (or tiny dents in your nails)

●      White, yellow, or brown nail discoloration

Proper treatment, with the help of your dermatologist, can help you control your nail psoriasis.
In some cases, psoriasis affects your joints. Psoriatic arthritis occurs most commonly in people with severe psoriasis, and usually after having it for years. The signs are often subtle, but include:

●      Heel pain

●      Stiffness in the morning that fades throughout the day

●      Swollen or tender joints, especially fingers or toes

●      Swelling just above your heel, on the back of your leg

Psoriatic arthritis has no cure, but treatment can prevent it from worsening.
The pus-filled bumps that set pustular psoriasis apart typically only appear on the hands and feet. They are often confused with an infection, but your skin is not infected, and your bumps do not contain any bacteria that could cause an infection. Signs you may have pustular psoriasis include:

●      Brown dots that appear as the pus-filled bumps dry

●      Extremely sore or painful skin

●      Red, swollen skin dotted with pus-filled bumps

Common activities like walking or typing can be extremely difficult when you’re dealing with pustular psoriasis.

Treating Psoriasis

If your psoriasis has progressed to the silvery scales stage, your provider should be able to diagnose your condition with a full skin examination of your skin and nails. If necessary, a confirmation of their diagnosis can be performed with a skin biopsy, which occurs when a small skin specimen is extracted and then examined under a microscope.

Your Rochester Regional Health dermatologist will help you find a personalized treatment for your specific type of psoriasis. There are some factors that will influence their suggestions, including your age, your overall health, your medical history, the severity of your condition, and your preferences.

While there is no cure for psoriasis currently, your provider will work with you to find the treatment that best alleviates your symptoms and slows down the shedding of skin cells. Treatments options include:

Anthralin, an anti-inflammatory that treats thicker, hard-to-treat patches
Creams, especially those containing coal tar or salicylic acid
Immunosuppressive medicines, like cyclosporine or methotrexate
Injectable biologic medicines
Laser treatments
Ointments and creams, to moisturize your skin
Oral or topical retinoids
Sunlight or ultraviolet light exposure, in one of our dermatology locations
Topical steroid creams

Whatever course of treatment you and your provider decide upon, you’ll be treated carefully, thoughtfully, and compassionately in one of our many dermatology locations.

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