Every August, psoriasis foundations, patients, and loved ones come together to commemorate National Psoriasis Awareness Month. This month provides an opportunity for anyone whose life has been impacted by psoriasis to raise awareness for the disease and work towards reducing the stigma associated with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

What is psoriasis?

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) describes psoriasis as “a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells… The most common form, plaque psoriasis, appears as raised, red patches covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells.”

Other, less common forms of psoriasis include guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic psoriasis. You can learn more about the different types of psoriasis here.

It is important to note that though psoriasis can appear on any part of the patient’s body, the disease itself is not contagious and cannot be passed on as a result of any physical contact.

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis, which the NPF describes as “pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints,” can develop at any time during a psoriasis patient’s lifetime. Up to 30 percent of psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis as well; this most commonly occurs when the patient is 30-50 years old.

What are some symptoms of psoriasis?

The NPF indicates that psoriasis “typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, though it can appear on any location. Some people report that psoriasis is itchy, burns and stings.”

Typically, a visual exam is sufficient to diagnose psoriasis. Mayo Clinic states that sometimes, it is necessary to take a small sample of skin and examine it under a microscope to confirm a diagnosis of psoriasis or identify the type of psoriasis you have. It is possible for other skin conditions to look very similar to psoriasis.

How is psoriasis treated?

Treatment of psoriasis will be unique to each individual patient; Mayo Clinic describes the options in detail. Your healthcare provider will help determine what treatment will be best for you based on the type and severity of your psoriasis, the areas of your skin which have become affected, and your specific treatment goals.

Some patients are able to manage their psoriasis with the use of topical creams and ointments. Other patients may benefit from the use of ultraviolet light therapy, also known as phototherapy.

In some cases, patients require more aggressive therapy. A variety of medications are approved and available for the treatment of psoriasis which can be administered as oral tablets or capsules, or as injectable medications.

The choice of which therapy is best for you will be based on which medication is the most effective, with the least side effects.

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To learn more about psoriasis, visit our website or get in touch with us to learn more about our patient services. Diplomat understands the importance of treatment in psoriasis management and is committed to providing the best possible care to our patients living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. You can contact us directly by calling 877.977.9118 or, if your request is not urgent, emailingdspinfo@diplomatpharmacy.com.