August is dedicated to National Psoriasis Awareness Month and we’ll be joining the discussion by talking all things psoriasis! Get ready to learn the need-to-know facts on the chronic skin disease affecting men and women alike.
The Purpose of Awareness
It’s powerful to grant someone the space to share something that connects them to others. National Psoriasis Awareness Month helps set the stage for a deeper understanding of a condition affecting the masses. By honoring psoriasis in this way, we help provide an outlet for those experiencing it but also help reduce the stigma and misconception surrounding it. This celebration of deeper understanding began in 1997 on a nationwide scale where campaign ads, key facts, and radio/ television discussions all centered around the topic. National Psoriasis Awareness month aims to educate the public and present hope to patients through essential facts, relevant medical advances, and community visibility.
An Overview of Psoriasis
Those managing psoriasis in daily life are no strangers to the discomfort of scaly and inflamed patches of skin. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that occurs when the immune systems become overactive resulting in skin cells multiplying too quickly. When discussing psoriasis, it’s vital to note that it is not contagious. While the direct cause of psoriasis continues to leave the medical field quite mystified, one thing is certain, you cannot catch it from anyone. On a genetic level, psoriasis is complex seeing as even those with no family history of psoriasis can go on to develop it.
With Psoriasis One Size Does Not Fit All
There are multiple different forms of psoriasis! However, knowing which one you’re facing is an excellent way to ensure you are on the best treatment plan. Here are 5 types of psoriasis you should familiarize yourself with:
- Plaque – This is the primary form of psoriasis, affecting approximately 80% of people with the skin condition. Symptoms may include, red patches of skin surrounded by silvery plaques. Favoring areas like the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back.
- Guttate – This typically emerges in children or young adults and displays smaller red dots usually near the torso or limbs.
- Pustular – This type can either occur localized or throughout the entire body consisting of yellowish pus-filled bumps named pustules.
- Inverse – Smooth and red in appearance and favor the areas where the skin folds, such as below the breasts or under the armpits. It can be worsened by the accumulation of sweat.
- Erythrodermic – A more severe and less common manifestation of psoriasis that covers most of the body in red scaly skin.
What To Expect Once Diagnosed
Once diagnosed, your healthcare provider will discuss the best course of action going forward. Multiple factors are considered when your doctor is putting together your treatment plan such as your age, medical history, and the severity of your condition to name a few. The goal with treatment is to aid in the reduction of inflammation and decrease the speed of growth and shedding of skin cells. Learning to properly navigate treatment can take some time, but there are various ways in which it can be treated. No matter the way you choose to approach your condition going forward, it’s important to know that you’re not alone.
Do you or someone you know have psoriasis? Our board-certified dermatologists at Texas Dermatology will help to put together a safe and effective treatment plan for you. Contact us today at (210) 829-5180 to schedule an appointment or click here to submit a request online.
Resources:
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriasis
