What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a common skin disease that affects the life cycle of skin cells. Normally, it takes about a month for new cells to travel from the lower layer of skin, where they are produced, to the outermost layer, where they die and flake off. In psoriasis, the entire life cycle takes only a few days. As a result, cells build up rapidly, forming thick, silvery scales and red, dry patches that itch and are sometimes painful.

 

Psoriasis is a chronic condition. You may have periods where your psoriasis symptoms improve or are in remission, alternating with periods where your psoriasis worsens. For some people, psoriasis is just a nuisance. For others, it is debilitating, especially when associated with arthritis. There is no cure, but psoriasis treatments can bring significant relief. And self-management measures, such as using an over-the-counter cortisone cream and exposing your skin to small amounts of ultraviolet light, can improve your psoriasis symptoms.

 

What are the Symptoms of Psoriasis?

Dry, thickened, raised patches on the skin are the most common sign of psoriasis. These patches are often covered with a silvery-white coating called scales, and they tend to itch.

While dry, thick skin patches are common, psoriasis can cause many signs and symptoms. What you see and feel tends to vary based on:

• the type of psoriasis you have;
• The locations where psoriasis appears on your body;
• The amount of psoriasis you have;

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque Psoriasis

The most common form, about 80 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis develop this type. When plaque psoriasis appears, you may see:

• Thick, raised patches of skin;
• Scales (a dry, thin, silvery-white coating) cover some patches;
• Patches of varying sizes;
• Smaller patches joining together to form larger patches;

Patches usually form on the scalp, elbows, knees, or lower back, but they can develop anywhere on the skin. It's common for patches to itch, but try not to scratch. Scratching can cause patches to thicken. To stop the itching, dermatologists recommend treating the psoriasis.

 

Inverse Psoriasis

This type of psoriasis develops in areas where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, genitals, and the folds of the buttocks. Where inverse psoriasis appears, you're likely to notice:

• Smooth, red patches of skin that look raw;
• Little, if any, silvery-white coating;
• Sore or tender skin;

Pustular Psoriasis

This type of psoriasis causes pus-filled bumps that typically appear only on the feet and hands. Although the pus-filled bumps may look like an infection, the skin isn't infected. The bumps don't contain bacteria or other things that can cause infection. When pustular psoriasis appears, you tend to notice:

• Red, swollen skin dotted with pus-filled bumps;
• Extremely tender or painful skin;
• Brown spots (and sometimes scales) appear when the pus-filled bumps dry;
• Pustular psoriasis can make any activity requiring hands or feet, such as typing or walking, unbearable;

Erythrodermic Psoriasis

Serious and potentially life-threatening, this type of psoriasis requires immediate medical attention. When someone develops erythrodermic psoriasis, you may notice that:

• Skin over most of the body looks burned;
• chills, fever, and feeling extremely ill;
• muscle weakness, rapid pulse, and significant itching;

Most people who develop erythrodermic psoriasis already have another type of psoriasis. Before developing erythrodermic psoriasis, they often notice their psoriasis worsening or not improving with treatment. If you notice either of these situations, see a licensed dermatologist. Individuals who develop erythrodermic psoriasis should seek immediate medical attention. Among other dangers, the individual may be unable to warm up, so hypothermia can set in quickly.

 

Psoriatic Arthritis

When psoriasis affects the joints, it causes a condition known as psoriatic arthritis. If you have psoriasis, it is important to pay attention to your joints. Some people with psoriasis develop a type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. This is more likely to happen if you have severe psoriasis. Most people notice psoriasis on their skin years before developing psoriatic arthritis. It's also possible to have psoriatic arthritis before psoriasis, but this is less common.

 

Psoriasis Treatments

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition involving an immune system malfunction that results in skin changes and other symptoms. There is no cure, but treatment can help a person manage and improve their symptoms. Laser treatment can improve symptoms, but it cannot treat the underlying condition that causes them.

 

That's why the person will need to continue treatment as long as their skin is affected. Psoriasis has flares (periods when symptoms worsen) and remissions (periods when they lessen). Laser treatment for psoriasis can help improve skin-related symptoms, but these may reappear during a new flare. That said, excimer treatment can help shorten the duration of a flare.

 

What Types of Psoriasis Can Be Treated with Laser?

Laser can treat multiple forms of psoriasis, but it is most helpful when it only affects small areas of the body.

Data on appropriate dosage is limited. It may depend on the type of psoriasis a person has, the severity of symptoms, skin type, and lesion thickness. Laser therapy for psoriasis may also be used in parallel with other treatments, such as clobetasol propionate spray and calcipotriol ointment, which are topical treatments.

 

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