Psoriasis vulgaris

Pso­ria­sis vul­ga­ris is a chro­nic inflamm­a­to­ry skin con­di­ti­on in which skin cells renew them­sel­ves far fas­ter than nor­mal. The result is shar­ply demar­ca­ted red patches cover­ed with sil­very-white sca­les. The con­di­ti­on runs in fla­res and affects around two to three per­cent of the population.

Cau­ses

Pso­ria­sis is based on a gene­tic pre­dis­po­si­ti­on in which the immu­ne sys­tem reacts inap­pro­pria­te­ly and acce­le­ra­tes cell divi­si­on in the epi­der­mis. Whe­ther and when it beco­mes acti­ve depends on trig­gers: infec­tions, stress, skin inju­ries, cer­tain medi­ca­ti­ons, alco­hol and smo­king can all set off a flare.

Sym­ptoms

Typi­cal signs are red, rai­sed plaques with firm­ly adhe­ring sca­les, most often on the elbows, kne­es, lower back and scalp. Many pati­ents report itching and a fee­ling of tight­ness. Nails may be invol­ved with pit­ting, oil spots or detach­ment, and some pati­ents also deve­lop joint com­plaints in the form of pso­ria­tic arthritis.

Tre­at­ment

Mild forms can be trea­ted topi­cal­ly, for exam­p­le with vit­amin D ana­lo­gues, cor­ti­cos­te­ro­ids and con­sis­tent emol­li­ent care. In exten­si­ve dise­a­se, pho­to­the­ra­py as well as sys­te­mic or modern bio­lo­gic medi­ca­ti­ons are an opti­on, tar­ge­ting the inflamm­a­to­ry cas­ca­de direct­ly. As pso­ria­sis is a chro­nic con­di­ti­on, long-term indi­vi­du­al­ly adapt­ed care is advisable.

Rela­ted tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Pso­ria­sis treatment