Common Skin Disorders
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psoriasisWhat is it?
Your skin is constantly repairing itself by shedding dead cells at the surface and replacing them with new ones. The whole cycle usually takes about a month. When you have psoriasis, the process can happen in a few days; new skin cells are pushed to the surface before they mature. The result is sore, red and itchy patches of skin covered by a silvery plaque. Psoriasis usually crops up on visible areas of the body, such as the knees, elbows and scalp; however, it is by no means restricted to these areas.
Psoriasis affects between 5.8 million and 7.5 million people in the United States alone.
What causes it?
Scientists believe that the disorder is due to an overactive immune system that causes the rapid skin turnover and inflammation. It could be hereditary — about one in three psoriasis patients have a family history of the disease. Stress, infections and dry climates can also trigger outbreaks.
How is it treated?
Your doctor will likely start by prescribing a topical ointment to help relieve symptoms. These include corticosteroids, calcipotriene (Dovonex), retinoid (vitamin A), coal tar, anthralin, salicylic acid, and clobetasol propionate. Most topical treatments work by either soothing the affected areas or suppressing localized immune response.
If topical treatments aren't effective, or are only partially effective, your doctor will prescribe sunlight and ultraviolet light therapy, which effectively slows disease progression by killing immune system T-cells at the site. If a combination of these therapies doesn't work, your doctor may prescribe a drug that can suppress the immune system, such as methotrexate, retinoids, cyclosporine, 6-thioguanine or hydroxyurea.
A new line of drugs called biologic response modifiers are also used to treat psoriasis. They are made from the proteins of living cells and interfere with specific immune system processes. These drugs include alefacept (Amevive), etanercept (Enbrel) and efalizumab (Raptiva). The drugs are effective, but they can have some serious side effects — a suppressed immune system can't effectively fight off some infections and diseases. Patients who take these drugs must be closely monitored by a doctor.
skin sorrowsIf you find yourself with an embarrassing skin affliction and are reluctant to go out in public, don't despair; there are treatments and procedures that can effectively clear them up.