Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that may manifest itself in different forms, most often as large plaques on the skin. While we know that it is genetic and typically appears after a "trigger" such as a stressful event or a bad sunburn, doctors and scientists still do not know what the exact cause is, what specific genes lead to the condition. Currently, psoriasis medications target the symptoms (such as the plaques) but not the root cause because this is still unknown.
Recently, however, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have identified 4 proteins that appear to contribute to psoriasis. Now that these 4 have been identified, further studies and research are being done to figure out how they work and how they influence a person's development of the skin condition. If a cause can be determined, treatments will improve. We are hoping that over the next few years, we will see more research and advancement in this condition suffered by approx. 7.5 million Americans.
For more information, see "Researchers Isolate Psoriasis Triggering Proteins" from the March 2015 issue of the Dermatology Times.