Jan 18 2009
Psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is one of the most common skin problems (1 to 3 percent of people), and appears as inflamed areas of overgrown skin, topped with white scale. Up to 37 percent of people first develop the disorder during childhood, especially during teenage years. Psoriasis is a chronic problem with periods of spontaneous remissions and recurrence. Although many patients report that another family member has psoriasis , most patients do not have anyone in the family psoriasis.
The cause of psoriasis is unknown. What we do know, however, is that trauma to the skin may cause a lesion at the site of drama, called the “Koebner phenomenon”. That may explain why do we see most lesions of psoriasis at areas of trauma, such as the scalp, the elbows, knees and buttocks. Very small lesions of psoriasis (”guttate psoriasis”) all over the body can be seen a few weeks after strep throat.
The management of psoriasis may be simple and mild cases, width occasional use of short term cortisone on the skin. Patience with more severe or widespread involvement often need more complicated therapy. Tars and anthralin are other agents, in addition to cortisone, that can be applied to the skin and are often effective. Occasionally, children width psoriasis will need ultraviolet light treatments. Any of these treatments should be done only with the advice of a dermatologist, and that patient with psoriasis who uses these treatments must be checked frequently and regularly. Injury to the skin should be avoided by wearing protective guards when participating in sports that can cause trauma and by choosing occupations that can decrease trauma to the skin. Tight clothing and shoes should be avoided as well. Although sunlight is often very helpful for patients with psoriasis, sunburn can result in many new lesions on the sites of the burn.
