At Dundee Dermatology in West Dundee, IL, we understand how self-conscious psoriasis can make you feel. We also understand how hard it is to deal with the itchiness and soreness that the plaques can make you feel. For this reason, we are proud to offer safe, effective psoriasis treatment methods, like the XTRAC Velocity-700 Excimer laser. Keep reading to learn more about this condition, including what you can do about it.
How Can You Treat Psoriasis?
There are a number of psoriasis treatment methods that may be right for you. In some cases, this skin condition can be treated effectively with such topical therapies as corticosteroids or retinoids. In other cases, it is necessary to take other treatment steps, like biologics or light therapy.
Light therapy with the XTRAC Velocity-700 Excimer laser is generally recommended for psoriasis cases that are moderate or severe in nature. UVB therapy with this laser slows down the rapid growth of cells. In addition to improving the appearance of the skin, other symptoms of the condition improve.
What Do Biologics Entail?
Biologics, like light therapy, is a type of psoriasis treatment that is generally recommended when the condition is moderate or severe. This treatment involves the injection of medication that alters your immune system. These injections can be administered in the comfort of your own home.
Why Is Treating This Condition Important?
If you suffer from psoriasis, it is extremely important that you see a dermatologist about treatment because there are a number of complications that can occur if you don’t seek treatment. For example, if you suffer from psoriasis, you can develop psoriatic arthritis, a condition characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, and pain. Furthermore, you may experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation where the plaques healed.
Eye conditions, like uveitis, blepharitis, or conjunctivitis can also come about as a result of untreated psoriasis. Furthermore, psoriasis can lead to metabolic conditions, like obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Moreover, due to the somewhat unpredictable nature of this condition, many people who suffer from it also suffer from such mood disorders as anxiety and depression.
Do I Suffer From Psoriasis?
To determine definitively whether you suffer from psoriasis, you need to attend an initial evaluation with a dermatologist. However, there is a good chance that you suffer from psoriasis if you have rashes on your skin. Other signs that you may have psoriasis include flaky skin, peeling skin, dryness, fissures, redness, small bumps, and thick skin. In severe cases, the joints, tendons, and nails can be affected in addition to the skin.
What Causes This Condition?
Many experts in the field believe that psoriasis is caused by an immune system disorder that erroneously tells your skin cells to grow at an abnormally rapid rate. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, and the dry, scaly patches the condition is known for are caused by rapid cellular turnover. Another thought is that healthy skin cells are mistakenly attacked by your immune system.
What Can Trigger a Psoriasis Flare-Up?
There are a number of potential psoriasis flare-up triggers. It is not uncommon for people to suffer from psoriasis and not experience any symptoms until an environmental factor triggers the first flare-up. One of the most common triggers for a psoriasis flare-up is an infection, like a skin infection or strep throat. The weather can also trigger a psoriasis flare-up. For example, you may notice more pain, itchiness, and flakiness when the weather is cold and dry.
Skin injuries can also trigger a psoriasis flare-up. For instance, you may start experiencing symptoms after you are bitten by an insect with venom that you are allergic to, you suffer from severe sunburn, or your skin gets cut or scraped. Heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and secondhand smoke exposure can also trigger a psoriasis flare-up. Furthermore, you may experience symptoms if you take certain medications or quickly withdraw from injected or oral corticosteroids.
What Are the Risk Factors for Developing This Condition?
Although anyone can develop this disorder at any time, roughly one-third of cases first present in childhood. The risk of developing this condition does not increase with age. Rather, family history is one of the most significant risk factors of developing this condition. Having two parents with psoriasis increases your risk of developing this condition more than having only one parent with the disease.
Similarly, having one parent with psoriasis increases your risk of developing this condition more than having no parents with the disease. Tobacco use is another very significant risk factor for the development of this disease. Furthermore, tobacco consumption can increase the severity of the symptoms.
Find Out the Right Psoriasis Treatment Method for You Today
Are you in the Geneva, South Elgin, Elgin, Carpentersville, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, St Charles, or Huntley area? Are you ready to improve the health of your skin and your self-confidence? If so, contact us today at Dundee Dermatology in West Dundee, IL to schedule your initial psoriasis treatment consultation. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be a good candidate for UVB therapy or biologics.