Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that results from abnormal autoimmune system responses. This condition affects skin cells and is caused by a mutation in the normal cell cycle and division rate, and as a result the affected cells often divide 10 times faster than normal cell division rate. These transformed cells appear on the skin's outer layer as scaly patches. The patches are often raised, dry, inflamed and red in appearance. Psoriasis can be a small scaling papule or multiple papules coalesce covering most of the outer skin surface. Some patients often experience burns, itchy, and stings in psoriasis. To get this condition effectively treated, one can visit Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic and get a consultation from the best psoriasis doctor in Delhi Dr. Nivedita Dadu. Psoriasis is often linked up with other serious health problems like health disease, diabetes, and depression. Psoriasis lesions are not infectious, but if proper treatment is not provided at initial stages, then secondary infections may occur. Psoriasis is manageable with medications, therapies, and some new biologic drugs provided by Dr. Dadu, one of the best dermatologists in Delhi, after proper skin analysis.
The most common type of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis. Other types of psoriasis include guttate, inverse, pustular, erythrodermic, nail, and psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis can affect both men and women of any age. Skin areas that are most commonly affected by psoriasis are knees, legs, soles of the feet, elbows, lower back, face, scalp, and palms.
Causes:
The compromised immune response plays a major role in psoriasis development. Sometime, inherited genetic defects also adversely affect the immune system of many people and results in psoriasis.
Several environmental factors are also responsible for developing psoriasis conditions such as changing weather, especially dry and cold conditions, skin infections, skin injury like a scrape, a bug bite or a severe sunburn, stress, smoking, alcohol, several medications like anti-malarial drugs and high blood pressure medications.
Signs and symptoms of psoriasis can vary from person to person. Some common signs and symptoms are as follows:
Small scaling spots.
Red patches on the skin surrounded with thick silvery scales..
Cracks and dryness of the skin that may itch or bleed
Burning and itching sensation on the affected area.
Stiffness and swelling in joints.
Thickened, pitted or ridged nails.
Fever and chills.
Psoriasis shows a good response to many systematic and topical treatments. Even patients with severe psoriasis experience relief with these treatments. The best psoriasis treatments provided by Dr. Dadu after proper skin analysis and disease diagnosis are:
1. Phototherapy: Light or phototherapy is recommended for persistent and severe cases of psoriasis. In phototherapy, the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light under medical supervision.
(i) UVB: Ultraviolet B is present in sunlight, and it proves to be an effective treatment for managing and curing psoriasis. The affected skin area is provided with UVB rays that slow the multiplication of those skin cells. In this treatment, the skin is exposed to artificial UVB light for a set time for a few weeks.
(ii) UVA: Ultraviolet A treatment is provided using light-sensitizing psoralen and is also termed as PUVA. This process lowers excessive skin cell multiplication and helps clear psoriasis symptoms for varying periods of time. PUVA treatment is most useful for stable plaque psoriasis, psoriasis of the soles and palms, and guttate.
2. Excimer laser: The excimer laser is used to treat chronic and localized psoriasis plaques. It causes the emission of a high-intensity beam of UV light B. The excimer laser targets the skin area affected by mild to moderate psoriasis. Scalp treatment shows a good response to the excimer laser.
3. Biologics: These medications can manage the immune response of the body. Biologics are useful for treating severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. These drugs are developed from human or animal proteins and are effective. Biologic drugs act by suppressing an enzyme that causes inflammation in psoriasis. They are either injected or IV infused to the patient to obtain the desired results.
4. Several creams, lotions are often recommended for smaller skin areas. The combination may include Salicylic acid, tar, vitamin analogs, and some retinoids.
Self-care for psoriasis:
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid alcohol consumption.
Apply ointment or medicated cream.
Consume a healthy and antioxidants rich diet.
Take regular baths and always, apply moisturizers.
Avoid stress and take adequate amount of sleep.
Take dietary supplements as prescribed by the doctor.
Expose the skin to small amounts of sunlight or take light therapy.
One must always apply sunscreen to the affected area, as suggested by their dermatologist. To cure this disease effectively, consult today with the Best Skin Specialist in Delhi at Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic.