How to deal with psoriasis effectivley?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am writing about my psoriasis and I am really struggling. It is getting worse and I can not handle the consequences. The red patches are spreading all over my arms and legs, and it makes me feel so uncomfortable in my skin. I used to be confident but now I feel like everyone stares at me when I am out. It is affecting my social life completely. I do not want to meet friends or go to social events anymore. The constant itching and burning sensation is driving me crazy. My skin looks like it is cracked and bleeding in some areas, and I am worried about how this might impact my overall health. I tried some over-the-counter creams but nothing seems to help. The consistent flare-ups are taking a toll on my mental well-being. I am a 29-year-old professional and this condition is messing with my self-confidence too. Please, help me understand what I am dealing with and what treatment options I might have.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

For a better understanding, I will give you an overview of the disease. Psoriasis is a skin disorder that causes skin cells to multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. This makes the skin build up into bumpy patches. They can grow anywhere, but most appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Psoriasis can not be passed from person to person. It does sometimes happen in members of the same family.

On lighter skin, they appear red, often covered with silver-colored scales. On medium skin tones, the plaques may be coral or salmon colored, and the scales a silvery-white. On darker skin tones, plaques may be dark brown or purplish with gray scales. These plaques may be itchy and painful, and they sometimes crack and bleed. In serious cases, the plaques will grow and merge, covering large areas.

Psoriasis treatments aim to stop skin cells from growing so quickly and to remove scales. Options include creams and ointments (topical therapy), light therapy (phototherapy), and oral or injected medications.

Which treatments you use depends on how severe the psoriasis is and how responsive it has been to previous treatment and self-care measures. You might need to try different drugs or a combination of treatments before you find an approach that works. Even with successful treatment, usually the disease returns.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.