Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common disease that mainly affects the skin, and its severity can vary greatly from one person to another. Though often benign, it can still have significant psychological and social impacts. Even though psoriasis is mostly known for its marks on the skin and scalp, it can also affect the joints.

Psoriasis causes raised red patches on the skin, which are often covered with silvery scales. These patches can be small or extensive and can appear anywhere on the body, but most often on the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Psoriasis is often diagnosed by a doctor simply by looking at the appearance of the patches on the skin. If there is any doubt, a skin sample will be taken for observation under a microscope.

If you suffer from psoriasis, you can say you have at least one thing in common with Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, and Cara Delevingne!

Psoriasis is an inflammatory immunological disease with an origin that is not entirely known. There is a hereditary component, but this does not necessarily mean that a child of a person with psoriasis will also suffer from it.

There are a whole series of factors that can trigger or worsen psoriasis, including smoking, alcohol, stress, certain throat infections, and taking certain medications.

It is an immune system disease, so it is of course not contagious.

Psoriasis cannot be cured, but the patches can disappear for long periods and then return.

Doctors treat psoriasis with phototherapy (application of ultraviolet light to the skin to heal it) and with medications. There is currently a wide range of treatments available. The choice of treatment will be made by the doctor depending on the extent of the lesions.

The goal of treatment is to completely eliminate the patches.

Exposure to the sun can improve psoriasis. However, be careful not to overdo it!

First advice, do not think that you cannot act on psoriasis, even if this disease never completely heals, current treatments are very effective. Second advice, consult a healthcare professional, preferably your doctor or particularly a dermatologist, so that your psoriasis is treated correctly. Be wary of what might be offered to you by incompetent people, especially on the Internet.

The Planète Santé website offers two interesting articles. The first, titled simply 'Psoriasis' is a general presentation of the disease. The second, 'Psoriasis is hard to hide but treats well' as the title indicates, is dedicated to treatments.