Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes rapid skin cell buildup, leading to thick, red, scaly patches. It can affect any part of the body, most commonly the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Psoriasis is not contagious but can significantly impact quality of life.

Certain factors can increase the risk of developing psoriasis or trigger flare-ups:

• Family History: Inherited genes can make individuals more prone to psoriasis.
• Stress: Emotional or physical stress may provoke or worsen symptoms.
• Infections: Infections such as strep throat can trigger certain types of psoriasis, especially guttate psoriasis.
• Medications: Drugs like beta-blockers, lithium, or antimalarials may induce or aggravate flare-ups.
• Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity are linked to a higher risk and more severe psoriasis.

Our multidisciplinary team provides personalized care to manage psoriasis symptoms and improve quality of life:

Topical Therapies: For mild to moderate psoriasis, topical treatments applied directly to the skin are usually the first step. These include corticosteroid creams and ointments to reduce inflammation, vitamin D analogues to slow skin cell growth, retinoids to normalize cell turnover, calcineurin inhibitors for sensitive areas, and salicylic acid or coal tar products to reduce scaling. These medicines can improve skin appearance and relieve itching and thickness.

Phototherapy (Light Therapy): Controlled exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light helps slow excessive skin cell growth and reduce inflammation. Phototherapy can be done using natural sunlight in a safe manner or specialized UVB or PUVA light in a clinical setting. Regular sessions are typically required for the best results.

Systemic and Oral Medications: For moderate to severe psoriasis or when topical treatments and phototherapy do not provide sufficient relief, systemic medications may be prescribed. These include oral drugs like methotrexate or retinoids and targeted immune‑modulating medicines that calm the overactive immune response that drives psoriasis.

Biologic Therapies: Biologics are advanced medications given by injection or infusion that specifically target parts of the immune system involved in psoriasis. These drugs can provide significant improvement in moderate to severe cases and are especially useful when other treatments fail. Examples include agents that block specific immune signals responsible for inflammation.

Combination Approaches: Often, a combination of treatments—such as topical therapies with phototherapy or systemic medicines—is used to achieve better control of symptoms with fewer side effects. Long‑term management plans are tailored to each patient’s needs and may change over time based on response and tolerance.