Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is a common condition of the skin that affects 2 in 100 people in the UK. Both women and men are equally affected. Psoriasis is a chronic medical skin condition and tends to wax and wane in its severity. The condition cannot be transmitted from person to person and therefore is not infectious. Psoriasis does not result in an increased risk of skin scarring but there be short lived changes in the colour of the skin. Thanks to medical advances in psoriasis treatment and despite being a chronic medical condition, there are now many excellent treatment options to maintain effective control of psoriasis.

Psoriasis does not just affect the skin, it can also involve the nails and the joints. A type of the condition is known as psoriatic arthritis and this is known to exert its effects

Psoriasis can affect the nails and the joints as well as the skin. Psoriatic arthritis produces swelling and stiffness in the joints or stiffness in the lower back and should be managed by a rheumatologist who works closely with your dermatologist and/or your GP.

Psoriasis, particularly moderate to severe psoriasis, is associated with an increased risk of anxiety, depression and harmful use of alcohol. Moderate to severe psoriasis increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and treatment of psoriasis may reduce this risk. Psoriasis can also be associated with diabetes, obesity, venous thromboembolism, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Psoriasis is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease and there is a small increased risk of skin cancer in longstanding cases of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a very common dermatological condition and affects about 2% of the UK population. Although the causes of psoriasis are not exactly elucidated, it is well known that hereditary factors along with immunological factors play a key role which are often potentiated by environment triggers.

Known associations with psoriasis:

• Psoriasis tends to run in families and so there is a strong genetic influence
• Psoriasis is most commonly found in those of Caucasian extraction
• Immunological factors are thought to play a part in the development of psoriasis as hyperactive white blood cells have been shown to exert an effect on the skin cells which leads to an increase in cellular turnover and this is what gives rise to the over proliferation of skin at the sites of psoriasis
• Psoriasis is not known to have the ability to be passed between individuals – it is non-contagious
• Some patients may possess genetic code which predisposes them to develop psoriasis

Environment triggers are known for being preciptants of flare-ups of psoriasis and these include:

• Infection
• Certain medications such as steroids or medicines for mental health conditions
• Disruption to skin integrity such as caused by traumatic injury
• Tobacco and alcohol intake
• Low ambient temperatures with low humidity
• Stressful lifestyle

Causes of exacerbations of psoriasis

• Infection – both bacterial and viral infections including sore throats caused by streptococcus bacteria
• Cold and dry weather conditions
• Traumatic injury to the skin – these include cuts, grazes and insect bites
• Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
• Stressful life events
• Certain medications such as steroid use or medicines used to treat mental health conditions
• Excessive sunlight exposure result in sun burn and also inadequate exposure to sunlight

• Guttate psoriasis
• Localised pustular psoriasis
• Generalised pustular psoriasis
• Erythrodermic psoriasis
• Psoriasis affecting the nails. The nails often develop small pits and may develop discolouration. In some cases, the nail may lift up from the nail bed.

Psoriasis can also present as part of a psoriatic arthritis which may also require joint input from a rheumatologist for adequate control.

Where does psoriasis most commonly develop on the body?

• Knees
• Elbows
• Scalp

Psoriasis can also be found on other areas of the body depending on the type of psoriasis and in severe cases, psoriasis can present in a diffuse widespread pattern with involvement of much of the surface of the skin.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition which means it cannot be cured completely and often waxes and wanes in severity. Despite there not currently being a definitive cure for the condition, there are a number of effective psoriasis treatment options available for proper control of the condition.

Psoriasis Treatment options for optimal symptom control include:

• Topically applied skin creams and gels
• Targeted light-based therapies
• Systemic medications which are both orally administered and in severe cases by intravenous injection

The treatment strategy for psoriasis involves the use of topical therapy and light-based treatments for the milder forms of psoriasis with systemic medications reserved for the most severe cases of psoriasis where both topical and light treatments have proven ineffective in disease control.

At your consultation for psoriasis treatment in London, your specialist dermatologist will formulate a treatment plan for optimal management of this common skin condition.

Why have psoriasis treatment in London at Centre for Surgery?

• Improvement in symptoms
• Increased levels of confidence and ability to engage fully with activities of daily living
• Enhanced levels of emotional well-being with reduced levels of stress

Centre for Surgery is located at 106 Crawford Street in Marylebone. Crawford Street is just off Baker Street. We are easily accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Baker Street as well as Baker Street underground station.

From the tube station, we are just a 5 minute walk southwards down Baker Street followed by a right turn onto Crawford Street. The clinic is about 200 yards on the left.

There is ample local pay & display parking in the surrounding area and an NCP car park is located further west along Crawford Street. Our local residential parking zone is the City of Westminster.

Address: 106 Crawford Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 2HY