"We understand the physical and emotional impact psoriasis has on a patient's psychological well-being."

 

The Psoriasis Center is a state-of-the-art facility providing the latest in treatments for psoriasis. We understand psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are both physically and mentally distressing chronic conditions for patients, and require specialized treatment regimes tailored to the individual patient. The Psoriasis Center offers our patients novel therapies including the new "biologicals," full-body and hand/feet narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy, and other traditional oral and topical medications. In addition, we provide our patients educational videos and the opportunity to participate in FDA-approved clinical trials of current and upcoming treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

 

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated chronic skin disease that comes in different forms and varying levels of severity. Most researchers now conclude that it is related to the immune system, often called an "immune-mediated" disorder.

 

What Does Psoriasis Look Like?

Psoriasis generally appears as patches of raised red skin covered by a flaky white buildup. In certain kinds of psoriasis, it also has a pimple-ish, or burned discolored appearance. Psoriasis can also cause intense itching and burning.

It is not contagious. In general, it is a condition that is frequently found on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet or lower back. Many treatments are available to help manage its symptoms. More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have it. 

Between 10 percent and 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop a related form of arthritis, called psoriatic arthritis.

 

What Are The Causes of Psoriasis?

Researchers believe the immune system sends faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle in skin cells. Certain people carry genes that make them more likely to develop psoriasis, but not everyone with these genes develops psoriasis. Instead, a "trigger" makes the psoriasis appear in those who have these genes. Also, some triggers may work together to cause an outbreak of psoriasis; this makes it difficult to identify individual factors.

Possible psoriasis triggers are emotional stress, injury to the skin, some types of infection, and a reaction to certain drugs.

Once the disease is triggered, the skin cells pile up on the surface of the body faster than normal. In people without psoriasis, skin cells mature and are shed about every 28 days. In psoriatic skin, the skin cells move rapidly up to the surface of the skin over three to six days. The body can't shed the skin cells fast enough and this process results in patches also called "lesions" forming on the skin's surface.

 

How is Psoriasis diagnosed?

There is no blood test for psoriasis. At the Psoriasis Center we diagnose psoriasis by examining the affected skin. Sometimes, to remove a small piece of skin affected by the psoriasis and examine it under a microscope.

 

What are the Treatments for Psoriasis?

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have no cure, but people have a wide range of treatment options to help them gain control over their disease. Many different therapies can reduce, or nearly stop, the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. No single treatment works for everyone, but something is likely to work in most cases. Individuals may need to experiment before they find a treatment that works for them. 

It is important for people who seem to be developing severe psoriatic arthritis to begin appropriate treatment. Early treatment can help slow the disease, and preserve function and range of motion. Some early indicators of severe disease include onset at a young age, spinal involvement and the results of certain blood studies.