Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic condition with flares and remissions throughout a patient’s life. It most commonly occurs on elbows, knees, scalp, and the trunk of the body and is characterized by red plaques of skin with white, silvery scales. It can appear anywhere and usually begins in patients ages 15-35 years of age. When skin is healthy, skin cells generally last for one month before the outermost layer of the skin is shed. In patients with psoriasis, a just recently elucidated and now well-understood pathway signal from the immune system rapidly increases the growth cycle of skin cells, causing them to mature in only 3-6 days. The body is unable to shed the dead cells at this rapid pace, resulting in plaques of red skin covered with scaly white flakes. Psoriasis is a genetic disease, is not contagious, and it can often be associated with inflammation and pain in the joints as well.

Thankfully, with our new understanding of the immunologic pathways that drive psoriasis, there is an arsenal of new treatments which can clear your skin and prevent flares! If you would like information about potential treatments for your specific medical concern, or would like additional information about our complete offering of dermatological and aesthetic services, we invite you to contact our office today. We look forward to hearing from you and developing an individually-tailored treatment plan that will optimize your health and well-being.