Psoriasis Specialist – The Woodlands, TX & Houston, TX …

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is not an infection and is not contagious. Rather, its a chronic disease of the immune system that changes the way your skin cells regenerate, speeding up the normal process from weeks to days. This causes inflammation, itching, and other symptoms associated with psoriasis.

There are many forms of psoriasis, and each causes a different type of rash. Plaque psoriasis is by far the most common type. It appears as red, raised areas covered by a silvery layer of old skin. When your skin cells regenerate much faster than normal, the new cells move to the surface layer of your skin before its able to shed old cells.

This buildup of dead cells causes the silvery discoloration often noted in plaque psoriasis. These itchy patches or plaques usually form on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back and may eventually crack and bleed.

Other types of psoriasis include:

Some forms of psoriasis may affect only your nails or cause a condition known as psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

Medical science is not sure what causes the complex immune system changes that lead to psoriasis, but some issues that may trigger it include:

Treatment usually involves a combination of strategies, including topical treatments, oral medications, or phototherapy (light therapy) to slow the growth of new skin cells. If you have moderate to severe arthritis, the physicians at Specialists in Dermatology may also recommend medications called biologics to reduce the actions of your faulty immune system.

Biologics are protein-based drugs derived from living cells cultured in a laboratory. These medications are typically administered by injection or intravenous (IV) infusion. Rather than impacting the entire immune system like traditional systemic drugs, biologics target and decrease specific cells produced by your immune system that are linked to psoriasis, such as T cells.

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Psoriasis Specialist - The Woodlands, TX & Houston, TX ...