Psoriasis

Psoriasis impacts your immune system, causing skin cells to reproduce too quickly, which leads to rash-like buildups of dead skin. At Anna Chacon, MD, in Miami, Florida, board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD, provides psoriasis care in her office and online with teledermatology to patients in any state. To schedule your appointment, call Anna Chacon, MD, or book online today.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects your skin. It causes your skin cells to reproduce quickly, therefore building up on your skin’s surface into patches of scales in various areas. While a typical skin cell life cycle takes about a month, but with psoriasis, it’s only a few days long. 

The most common areas to get symptoms of psoriasis are your:

• Elbows
• Knees
• Hands
• Scalp
• Feet
• Neck

Dr. Chacon evaluates your symptoms and can tell you which type of psoriasis you have. The most common type is plaque psoriasis, but others such as guttate psoriasis and pustular psoriasis can also affect you. Guttate psoriasis is particularly common in childhood, while pustular psoriasis is more common in adults. 

What are the most common symptoms of psoriasis?

Psoriasis symptoms can vary in location and appearance based on the type of psoriasis you have. A few of the most common signs and symptoms of psoriasis are:

• Scales
• Redness
• Itching
• Bleeding
• Thickened nails
• Stiff or swollen joints

Symptoms of psoriasis tend to come in cycles. You might go for a long time without symptoms before they eventually reappear. It’s also possible for them to go into permanent remission, meaning they don’t come back. 

How can I manage my psoriasis?

Psoriasis is incurable, but it’s possible for the condition to go into a stage of remission where you no longer get symptoms. You can also manage your symptoms and prevent flare-ups with professional dermatological care. 

After evaluating your skin and making a diagnosis, Dr. Chacon can prescribe products and medications for your skin condition. She can also make recommendations for your lifestyle to give you a better outlook on your condition. For psoriasis, she often recommends:

• Avoiding triggers like alcohol and stress
• Topical corticosteroids
• Salicylic acid
• Topical retinoids
• Anthralin
• Oral medications (e.g. biologics, oral retinoids)
• Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy

As with many other conditions affecting your health, psoriasis often responds well to a healthy diet. While no foods can cure your condition, you can improve your overall health and reduce your symptoms by living a healthy lifestyle, making sure you meet your body’s nutritional needs, and finding a healthy outlet for stress. 

For more information on psoriasis and available treatments, schedule an in-person or teledermatology appointment with Anna Chacon, MD, over the phone or online today.