Introduction
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterised by excessive proliferation of keratinocytes and abnormal activation of the immune system.
Symptoms
- Well-defined red patches
- Thick, whitish scales
- Variable itching
- Scalp involvement
- Nail involvement
- Associated joint pain (psoriatic arthritis)
Causes
- Genetic predisposition
- Immune dysfunction
- Stress
- Infections
- Medicines
- Environmental factors
Diagnosis
- Dermatological clinical examination
- Assessment of how the lesions are distributed
- Assessment of severity
- Checking for joint involvement
Treatments
- Topical corticosteroids
- Vitamin D analogues
- Systemic treatments
- Targeted biological therapies
- UVB phototherapy
- Anti-inflammatory medical LED therapy
- Targeted lasers for localised plaques
Management
Personalised treatment according to severity
Regular follow-up
Coordination with rheumatology if needed
A holistic approach