Health & Medicine - County Woman Newspapers

Dr. Angela Wo, M.D.
Psoriasis is a very common
skin disorder seen in
the physician’s office. It is
estimated that more than
4.5 million adults in the
United States have been
diagnosed with psoriasis,
and approximately 150,000
new cases are diagnosed
each year. Unfortunately,
because there is currently
no cure for psoriasis, it is a
lifelong skin condition.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory
skin condition that
most typically presents with
red plaques and thick, white
scales. Although these skin
lesions usually affect the
elbow and knees, they can
affect any and all areas of
the skin, including the
scalp, hands, feet and even
nails. Some patients only
have a few localized spots,
while others may have the
majority of their skin surface
affected. Fortunately,
psoriatic skin changes usually
spare the facial area.
Although the cause of
psoriasis is still not fully
Mercer County Woman
Health & Medicine
◆ ◆ Treating Psoriasis
understood, it is believed
that psoriasis is an immune
mediated disease. The
faulty immune system signals
the body to accelerate
the growth of skin cells.
When compared with normal
behaving skin cells,
psoriatic cells mature and
move to the skin surface
more quickly. Then,
instead of being shed like
normal cells, the psoriatic
skin cells start to “pile-up”
and cause visible lesions.
Psoriasis also appears to
have a genetic component.
Approximately one-third of
people who develop psoriasis
have at least one family
member with the condition.
Even though it is possible to
develop psoriasis at any
age, most patients with
psoriasis develop it before
the age of 40. The earlier
the psoriasis appears, the
more likely it is to be widespread
and recurrent. Due
to the physical appearance
of psoriasis, a common misconception
is that it may be
contagious. However,
this is not true. Psoriasis
is neither infectious
nor contagious.
Unfortunately, psoriasis
can greatly impact a
patient’s quality of life:
physically, emotionally, and
socially. Because itching,
soreness, and cracked skin
can be common manifestations
in patients with psoriasis,
it can cause discomfort
and limit the patient’s phys-
ical activities. The psoriatic
patient’s thick white scales
can often flake off, leaving
behind residual flakes of dry
skin. This can sometimes
be difficult for patients in
social environments.
Because psoriasis is a skin
condition, it can be a conspicuous
disease—unlike
most other medical conditions.
Because of the visibility
of the disorder, it can
create a socially isolating or
self-conscious environment
for the patient. This can
oftentimes impact the
patient’s quality of life.
While there is currently
no cure for psoriasis, there
are several different ways of
managing the signs and
symptoms of psoriasis.
Treatment usually includes
a combination of different
medicated creams for localized
skin disease. For more
severe and extensive skin
involvement, treatment can
include oral medications
and/or light-therapy. In
addition to these treatment
options, there is also a
newer class of injectable or
infusible medications available
to patients with extensive
psoriasis. With these
medications emerging on
the horizon, this is an exciting
time for the treatment
of patients with psoriasis.
Please make an appointment
with your health care
provider to help determine
which treatment option
would work best for you.
“Blessed are they who
have nothing to say
and who cannot be
persuaded to say it.”
—James Russell Lowell
◆ ◆
17 March / April 08