Psoriasis is a recurring, noncontagious skin disease that is characterized by raised, thickened patches of red skin covered with silvery-white scales.
It is estimated that 4.5 million adults in the U.S. have psoriasis.
Psoriasis derived its name from the Greek word meaning, “itch.” It results from an overproduction of skin cells leading to thickening of the skin and scaling. Any part of the body may be affected, but certain areas such as elbows, knees, fingernails, heels, face or scalp are common sites for psoriasis. More severe forms of the disease may affect large areas of the body such as the chest, back and legs.
Research suggests that psoriasis may be hereditary or that it may be the result of a gene mutation. The immune system is mistakenly “triggered,” causing new skin cells to form at a very fast rate. Skin cells move up to the skin surface every three to four days instead of the usual 28 to 30 days. The result is that skin cells build up, causing raised, red patches, which are cosmetically annoying and often very itchy. People often experience their first attack or subsequent flare-up if their skin is injured, such as being cut, scratched or severely sun-burned.
Psoriasis can worsen with stress, some medications, winter weather and infections.
Psoriasis therapy is customized to meet individual patient needs. Your age, how long you have had psoriasis, the extent of the disease and your response to past treatment will influence the course of therapy I recommend at any given time. Various treatments and combinations of treatments may be necessary before the psoriasis is under control. Prescription medications containing cortisone, salicylic acid, tar, anthralin or retinoids may be recommended alone or in combination with special ultraviolet light. These medications require careful adjustment according to patient response and lab-test results, often needed to monitor the safety of some treatments.
Photochemotherapy involves taking a medication known as “psoralen” by mouth followed by exposure to a special kind of ultraviolet light known as “UVA” or “long-wave” ultraviolet light in a series of treatments. The term, PUVA, is an acronym for Psoralen drug combined with Ultra-Violet A light therapy.
Among the newest agents for psoriasis that has not responded to other treatments are the “biologics,” medicines that act against naturally occurring cells or chemical messengers thought to promote psoriasis. They have substantial advantages over previously used systemic therapies in that they do not cause kidney or liver damage and have fewer risks and side effects than traditional therapies. Examples include alefacept (Amevive), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and efalizumab (Rap-tiva).
Biologic treatments tend to be expensive and require injections, but they appear to have a high degree of safety.
For most patients, psoriasis is a long-term condition. Although there is no cure, there are many effective treatments. Now, thanks to a surge in new treatment options developed over the last few years, patients have more hope than ever in finding a treatment that works for them.
Dr. John J. Jones Jr. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in diseases of the skin, allergies and skin-cancer surgery, with offices in Thibodaux and Raceland. He also serves as associate professor of dermatologic surgery at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans.
By Dr. John Jones, Health columnist
Psoriasis Treatment
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment