Psoriasis, which concerns 2% of the society, is not a contagious disease and does not leave a trace while healing. The cycle of skin cells increases and the skin cannot be fully restructured. Some people, especially those with a family history of psoriasis, are more prone to this disease. However, the reasons still have not been fully elucidated under today’s conditions. Factors such as throat infections, stress or skin damage can trigger the disease. Excessive alcohol intake, smoking, medications can worsen psoriasis. Since this disease is closely related to the psychological state, attacks and resistance to treatment may occur when stressed and depressed.
But what is this psoriasis? Psoriasis is a red rash that can sometimes be itchy and goes with white mother-of-pearl-colored dandruff. It is most commonly seen on the scalp, hips, knees and elbows. Sometimes we treat our patients together with Physiotherapists because joint involvement is also involved. With nail involvement, thimble nail, color and deformities can be seen. The biggest concerns of psoriasis patients are the appearance and the perspective of society on them. This anxiety impairs their quality of life.
A frequently asked question is Can psoriasis be treated? is It is treated according to the type and severity of the disease. Topical treatments applied from the outside to the skin are preferred in the initial stage and in children. UVA and UVB treatments, called phototherapy, are successful treatments that respond to the disease. In addition, it is possible to keep the disease under control with oral systemic treatments, but these treatments require clinical follow-up and blood tests. There are also newly emerging treatment protocols applied by injection for severe forms of psoriasis.
Since psoriasis is a disease whose stress control is important and continues in a vicious cycle of disease and stress, we often tell our patients that they should seek support from a psychiatrist. Our patients are the first to make this recommendation, am I crazy? Even if they react, seeing that their psoriasis regresses when they are treated after treatment takes them out of this vicious circle.
We wish you a nice week away from diseases…
