Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition stemming from an overactive immune system. Affecting 7.5 million Americans, it spurs skin cells to grow rapidly and then shed every three or four days. This can leave inflamed and raised red areas which can turn into silvery scales mostly on your scalp, elbows, lower back or knees.
While psoriasis isn’t contagious, it is hereditary. After it subsides it can return and be even more severe.
Triggers for psoriasis include stress, sunburn, infection, injury, reaction to medications and using alcohol or tobacco. Obesity, arthritis and other medical conditions also can ignite it.
Bellaire Dermatology is recognized nationally for its expertise at treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, a related condition. Individualized care can include steroidal topical creams or Narrowband Light Therapy, during which aestheticians apply a specific wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the skin to help healing. Long-term biologic medicine-derived from living sources-also may be needed.
