Psoriasis treatment at Rodgers Dermatology in Frisco, TX.
Understanding Psoriasis and How To Treat It
Psoriasis affects more than 8 million people in the United States. About 70 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis report itching that impacts their overall quality of life. No one knows exactly what causes psoriasis. However, a person’s immune system and genetics can play major roles in its development. Additionally, there is usually some factor that triggers psoriasis to flare.
What do you need to know about your psoriasis? How can we treat it? What are some strategies for managing symptoms? We answer all of these questions and more.
What is psoriasis?
To put it simply, psoriasis is a skin condition that creates red patches of skin with white, flaky scales. It most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees, and trunk, but it can appear anywhere on the body. Itching is one of the most common symptoms associated with the condition. Some people describe it as a burning sensation, while others compare it to the feeling of being bitten by fire ants.
At Rodgers Dermatology, we help our psoriasis patients manage their symptoms and get back to a normal life as quickly and effectively as we can.
How do we treat psoriasis?
What does management and treatment of the condition typically look like?
Treating psoriasis itch is one of our main goals since it can drastically affect the quality of daily life. Reducing the itching sensation can significantly improve the condition and the ability to cope with it. Additionally, effectively treating psoriasis can reduce psoriasis lesions, irritation and pain. There are a variety of ways that we can help you manage your symptoms, including itching.
This is often the first step we recommend in controlling psoriasis itch. Properly moisturizing your skin can reduce redness and itching caused by psoriasis. This helps the skin heal. We may recommend heavy creams and ointments to lock water into the skin. In your consultation, we can discuss what products and strategies are best for you.
A scale-softening (keratolytic) product may help reduce excess skin and prevent psoriasis plaques from cracking and flaking. Over-the-counter lotions that contain ingredients like salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea, or phenol can also help remove scale. This should reduce the itch and make itch-relieving lotions and ointments more effective.
Stress is a common trigger for psoriasis flare-ups. Relieving stress as much as possible is an important step for people with psoriasis. Stress relief looks different for everyone, but meditation, exercise, and getting outside help from therapists, physical therapists, and others can help.
Cold showers and cold packs may also offer relief. It’s best to avoid hot showers because hot water can make skin irritation and dryness worse. After a shower, apply lotion to lock in moisture. Some patients like to store lotions in the refrigerator so they can experience the cool feeling on itchy skin.
If we decide additional action is needed, the experts at Rodgers Dermatology might recommend a prescription. Some prescription treatments we may consider include:
- Excimer laser
Many times, a prescription treatment plan combined with at-home remedies results in the best success.