Friday, November 7, 2008

What is Psoriasis? cont.. (Psoriasis Treatment)

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis
is probably one of the longest known illnesses of humans and simultaneously one of the most misunderstood.


Psoriasis is a disease which affects the skin and joints and commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Between 10- 30% of people who develop psoriasis get a related form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis, which causes inflammation of the joints.

Psoriasis can cause pain, itching, burning and emotional distress. It affects both sexes equally and can occur at any age, although it most commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 and 25.

Psoriasis is characterized by red, scaling plaques, ranging from only a few lesions to total involvement of the skin. The primary lesion is a well-demarcated erythematous plaque with a silvery scale. Characteristically, psoriasis is symmetrically distributed, with lesions frequently located on the ears, elbows, knees, umbilicus, gluteal cleft and genitalia (Figure 1). The joints (psoriatic arthritis), nails and scalp may also be affected.

FIGURE 1. Common areas of distribution of psoriasis. The lesions are usually symmetrically distributed and are characteristically located on the ears, elbows, knees, umbilicus, gluteal cleft and genitalia. The joints (psoriatic arthritis), nails and scalp may also be affected.

Today more than seven million Americans suffer with psoriasis. Recent studies show that there may be an ethnic link. It seems that psoriasis is most common in Caucasians and slightly less common in African Americans. Worldwide, it is most common in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. It appears to be far less common among Asians and Native Americans.

There are many psoriasis treatment options including medications, light therapy, and alternative therapies. Psoriasis is a persistent, long-lasting (chronic) disease.

The most common form is plaque-type psoriasis (Figure 2). The scale itself is variable, ranging from a thick, massive scale, as is generally seen on the scalp, to no scale at all, as is generally seen in intertriginous or partially treated areas.



Bold

FIGURE 2.
A primary lesion of plaque-type psoriasis. The typical lesion is a well-demarcated, thick, erythematous plaque with a silvery scale.


Psoriasis Treatment

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

What is Psoriasis? (Psoriasis Treatment)

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is characterized by red, thickened plaques with a silvery scale. The lesions vary in size and degree of inflammation. Psoriasis is categorized as localized or generalized, based on the severity of the disease and its overall impact on the patient's quality of life and well-being. Patient education about the disease and the treatment options is important. Medical treatment for localized psoriasis begins with a combination of topical corticosteroids and coal tar or calcipotriene. For lesions that are difficult to control with initial therapy, anthralin or tazarotene may be tried. The primary goal of therapy is to maintain control of the lesions. Cure is seldom achieved. If control becomes difficult or if psoriasis is generalized, the patient may benefit from phototherapy, systemic therapy and referral to a physician who specializes in the treatment of psoriasis. (Am Fam Physician 2000;61:725-33,736.)

Psoriasis affects about 2 percent of the U.S. population. In 1990, psoriasis was the reason for more than 1 million visits to physicians.1 In the past, the treatment of psoriasis was primarily managed by dermatologists; this disorder accounted for only 0.4 percent of skin-related visits to family physicians.2 The number of patients treated by family physicians, however, is likely to have steadily increased as more patients seek medical care of psoriasis from their primary care physicians.

This article describes an algorithmic treatment approach for primary care physicians. The algorithm is based on treatment guidelines for psoriasis published by the American Academy of Dermatology,3 supplemented by a review of the medical literature. There currently are no evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of psoriasis. Because localized plaque psoriasis is the most common form, the algorithm focuses on the treatment psoriasis.

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis Treatment Blog (Psoriasis Treatment)

Psoriasis Treatment

Welcome to the psoriasis treatment blog. Here you will find information on the psoriasis treatment and learn about the symptoms and causes of psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by dry red patches covered with scales.

Psoriasis Treatment