Psoriasis is a chronic (ongoing and persistent) skin disorder. Treatment can often control the disease for long periods. However, none of the available treatments is a cure. The disease can come back when treatment stops. Research continues to find more effective treatments and, eventually, a cure for psoriasis. Early results from studies underway to show […]
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Here are some frequently asked questions related to psoriasis. Q: If I have psoriasis, will my children get it? A: Psoriasis is not contagious, so you cannot “give” it to your children or to anyone else. However, in about one third of cases, psoriasis is inherited. It is estimated that if a child has one parent
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Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that affects both men and women. Psoriasis is not an infection and it is not contagious-you cannot “catch” it from anyone. The severity of psoriasis varies widely. The most common pattern is for the disease to be limited
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Psoriasis is a skin disorder than can occur at any age in both men and women. Most commonly, psoriasis first appears as thick, flaky patches of skin on the elbows, knees, or other parts of the body. The patches may be silver or red. The skin flaking that occurs in psoriasis is known as scaling.
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Normal skin has two layers: an outer layer called the epidermis and an inner layer called the dermis. Skin cells are created in the dermis and move up through the epidermis to the skin surface. Skin cells are continually dying and being replaced. Normally, skin cells mature and shed in about a month. In psoriasis,
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It can be difficult for the doctor to diagnose psoriasis in the early stages, when the disease may be limited to rough patches on the elbows. Certain symptoms, such as a dandruff-like scalp condition or what looks like a fungal infection, may be hard to recognize as psoriasis. Nail pits may be a sign of
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There are several different types of psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis Guttate psoriasis Psoriasis of special skin sites Other types of psoriasis Plaque Psoriasis This is the most common type of psoriasis. It typically appears as thick, flaky patches of skin on one or more parts of the body. Sometimes the patches of affected skin are large,
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Triggering factors are events or conditions that cause psoriasis to flare up or worsen. Skin injury. Injury or trauma can make psoriasis worse. This feature of the disease is called the Koebner phenomenon. Patches of thick, flaky skin may appear following a burn, graze, or rash. If someone is prone to outbreaks of psoriasis, it is
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Melanoma is often painless and usually produces the following signs: A change in the size, color, shape, or feel of an existing mole The appearance of a new growth or mole on the skin Need To Know: What changes in moles or freckles can indicate cancer? Melanomas may form from an existing mole or freckle,
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Doctors often spot melanoma during a skin inspection. The doctor should look for growths by doing a complete examination of the entire skin surface during each yearly physical examination. Many people detect melanoma themselves while doing regular skin self-examination. Early diagnosis is important-skin cancer would be almost 100 percent curable if all skin cancers were
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If a biopsy shows melanoma, it is important for the doctor to determine what stage it has reached before deciding on treatment. Staging involves measuring the thickness of the original tumor and checking to see if it has spread elsewhere. This may require additional tests, including blood tests, chest x-rays, and scans of the bones,
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Treatment of melanoma depends on the disease stage, the individual’s age, overall health, and other factors. Doctors usually develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Melanoma treatment often requires a team of specialists. The team may include: A dermatologis/dermatologic surgeon (skin specialist) A surgeon A plastic and reconstructive surgeon A medical oncologist (cancer specialist)
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