Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I am looking for a permanent cure for psoriasis. Could you suggest treatments that can offer a long-term solution? Additionally, I would like to know the various treatment options available, the underlying causes of psoriasis, and the precautions I can take to prevent recurrence. Please recommend ointments, hair lotions, shampoos, vitamins, and moisturizers for managing skin patches and flakes, especially those associated with hair loss.
Please help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I went through your query.
I am truly sorry to hear that you've been dealing with this skin condition for the past three years, and I completely understand your frustration. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. If there's a family history of psoriasis, the likelihood of developing the condition is around 10-20 percent. It is a common skin disorder, affecting up to 3 percent of the global population. Psoriasis is not contagious and does not spread from person to person. It causes an increased rate of skin cell growth, with new skin forming every 4 days instead of the usual 4 weeks, leading to the formation of premature skin cells that appear as scales.
While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, if it were fully understood, a permanent cure would likely exist. Psoriasis is a chronic T-cell-mediated inflammatory disease triggered by various factors, including immune response, physical trauma, stress, infections, genetics, seasonal changes, obesity, alcohol, smoking, and certain medications.
Treatment options include:
1. Oral Methotrexate: Requires specific criteria and regular blood tests, with monthly monitoring.
2. Phototherapy: PUVA (Psoralen UVA therapy) or Narrowband UVB therapy.
3. Oral medications: Cyclosporine, Retinoids.
4. Biologics: Medications like adalimumab (Humira), infliximab, and apremilast (Otezla).
To manage psoriasis, it is important to:
1. Avoid stress; practices like yoga and meditation can be beneficial.
2. Engage in regular physical activity, aiming for at least 40 minutes a day, six days a week. Obesity can reduce the effectiveness of treatment, and both conditions are linked to heart problems.
3. Prevent skin trauma; after injuries heal, psoriasis lesions can appear at the site (a phenomenon called Koebnerization).
4. Avoid scratching to prevent the spread of new lesions.
5. Use good moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated, especially during winter when psoriasis tends to worsen.
6. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and painkillers like diclofenac and ibuprofen without consulting a doctor, as they can exacerbate psoriasis.
7. Manage infections like colds promptly, as they can trigger flare-ups.
You can discuss these treatment options with your dermatologist to determine the best course of action for you. Although psoriasis cannot be permanently cured, it can be well managed.
Thank you.
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