Psoriasis Treatment at our Harley Street Clinic – Dermatologist Consultation £169
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes inflammation, redness, scaling and the thickness of the skin. It can affect any part of the body including the elbows, scalp, knees and nails. In some case, it may be associated with the arthritis. The psoriasis can be a result of stress, illness or some medications. Psoriasis is usually intermittent, and sufferers may experience outburst during distress or hormonal fluctuations.
Psoriasis is believed to be caused by the change in the skin immune system where the growth of new skin cell is accelerated and the skin cells that are build up on the skin surface forms a psoriatic plaque. Usually, skin cells replace themselves with new cells every 28 days, while psoriatic skin cells are replaced every two to six days. This causes to appear the buildup skin cells as patches of red skin with silvery white scales.
When does Psoriasis Appear?
At London Dermatology Clinic; our Psoriasis Treatment London sees patients from all age groups including baby to old age as it can occur at any time in life. Around 30% of all cases are related to genetic conditions of psoriasis while others are thought to be associated with injury, stress, drug reaction or infection. Genetic condition does not necessarily mean that either of the person’s parents would have had psoriasis, but it could be a result of a combination of genes from both parents.
Psoriasis mostly appears in mid-adult life however, it can also occur in children and adults. It can often last for several months or years, but its severity may increase or decrease. The psoriasis can get worse with emotional stress, throat bacterial infection, certain medication and over consumption of alcohol.
How Psoriasis Affect People?
The severity of psoriasis can vary from no more than a minor irritation to a major problem. In severe cases, a patient has to be hospitalized. Even a little bit of psoriasis in a delicate area such as genitals or face can cause extreme distress. Sometimes it can cause itching and painful cracking of the skin. People may feel psychologically upset, low self-worth, low self-esteem and troubles in forming sexual & emotional relationship.
Psoriasis Treatment London
Although there is no effective cure for this problem, this medical condition can still be controlled well with medication. The treatment for psoriasis involves three basic categories: Topical treatment, phototherapy and systemic medication.
Topical Treatment – This treatment includes applying creams and lotions directly on the skin. It also involves tar, vitamin preparations, steroids and soap substitutes. It is effective at the mild stage when only small areas of the body are affected.
Phototherapy – The phototherapy treatment involves the precise dose of ultraviolet light, either UVA or UVB, being delivered by UV machine. UVB can be used directly, whereas UVA is used in conjunction with Psoralen. The Psoralen is a chemical derived from plants and when applied on the skin, it makes the skin more sensitive to UVA. Also known as PUVA, it is undertaken only where UVB is less effective. Phototherapy is usually carried out two or three times a week for several weeks. Regular exposure to sunlight also helps to control psoriasis, as the sunrays emit UV radiation. Phototherapy is effective for moderate to severe level of psoriasis where larger areas of the body are involved.
Systemic Medication – Systemic medication may either suppress the immune system or slow down the skin cells replacement and reduces inflammation. Systemic medications may require monitoring using blood tests and should always be prescribed under the supervision of an experienced dermatologist.
If you would like to get Psoriasis Treatment London call us today on 0207 030 3370 and speak to a member of our friendly team.
