How to Deal With Psoriasis: By a Consultant Dermatologist

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects roughly 2% of the population.

The outermost layer of our skin, known as the epidermis, continually sheds skin cells in order to replace them with new ones. Those who suffer from psoriasis find that this process is sped up. What would typically take weeks ended up happening over the course of days. This increase in skin cell turnover is what leads to the symptoms that manifest as a result of the condition.

What causes psoriasis?

Psoriasis can be caused by multiple factors but perhaps the most common is that it is a genetic condition. If one of your parents or siblings has it, then you are much more likely to develop it when compared with someone with no family history of it. Psoriasis can be worsened by environmental factors too. Stress, smoking, and certain medications can also act as triggers and cause the condition to become worse.

What does psoriasis look like?

It causes pink patches on the skin that can sometimes have a silvery scale on the surface too. They can be tender for some people as they can cause itching in some cases. Any area of the body can be affected, but the most common sites are elbows, kness and the scalp. It can also affect the genital area and underarms but these patches are smoother. Sometimes psoriasis can affect the joints causing swelling, pain and stiffness. We refer to this as psoriatic arthritis

Can psoriasis be cured?

Psoriasis is what we refer to as a chronic condition meaning that this is currently no cure for it. There are, however, multiple treatment options on how to keep it under control.

Your specific treatment will depend on the severity of the condition and how it’s affecting you.

Some treatment options include steroid creams, medications, as well as phototherapy which is a light treatment that is carried out.

How can I treat psoriasis at home?

The best thing you can do to treat it at home is to liberally apply moisturiser every single day. For those who suffer from scalp symptoms, there are medicated shampoos we can prescribe that can really help manage the condition.

Where can I find psoriasis support?

There are some fantastic charities in the UK that can help support. The British Skin Foundation is a good place to start. There is also the Psoriasis Association.

Thanks to Dr Anjali Mahto, the skin expert from Self London.

In 2023, Dr Mahto opened her own clinic, Self London where she specialises in acne and acne scarring, but is a leading expert across many skin conditions.

Dr Anjali Mahto is a UK-trained consultant dermatologist and author of the bestselling book, The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin

She is happy to consult both adults and children with skin, hair and nail disorders. Her areas of specialist interest include acne and scarring, rosacea, moles, and anti-ageing therapies including injectable and laser treatments.

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