Psoriasis is a dermatological disease that presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. There are many treatment options for patients, ranging from topical treatment, symptomatic treatment to the use of biologic drugs.
The best clinics in Switzerland provide comprehensive diagnosis and individualised treatment of skin diseases according to the latest clinical findings.
Treatment in Switzerland at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology provides:
Psoriasis is a skin disease. But it happens that its symptoms are also observed in the case of the nails, and changes in the nails may accompany skin changes or appear independently. In some cases, joints can also be affected, but these are the only internal organs that can be affected.
Psoriasis is a very common dermatological disease. It is manifested by itching, the formation of inflammatory rashes and flaking. About 4% of the world's population suffers from psoriasis. Experts say that the earlier the signs of psoriasis begin to appear, the more difficult the disease will be. The cause of psoriasis is the overactive growth of skin cells, which causes the skin to become thickened. Psoriasis can be chronic or recurrent. Contrary to popular misconception, psoriasis is not contagious. If you have been diagnosed with psoriasis, and you have been through more than one course of treatment, and the result is zero, do not despair! Quite often experienced doctors refute the diagnosis and on the basis of clinical tests find the true cause of the disease in other systems of the body.
Patients' skin lesions are often visible and the disease usually affects specific areas.
Psoriasis most commonly affects:
The symptoms of common psoriasis are primarily the result of benign, rapid, uncontrolled growth of the epidermis. Cells in the top layer of skin (epidermis) "migrate" to the surface of the skin seven times faster than in healthy people. Normally, the epidermis regenerates within 28 days. For psoriasis patients, this takes only three to four days.
Result: Shiny, silvery-white scales form on sharply defined, heavily bleeding and inflamed areas of the skin. Particularly affected are the extensor sides of the arms (e.g. elbows) and legs (e.g. shin area), the scalp as well as the buttocks, chest and back, sometimes also the eyebrows, armpits, navel or genitals or anus (gluteal fold). The affected areas are often itchy.
The scales can often be removed with a fingernail. Vulgar psoriasis is the more common form of psoriasis. There is also a form in which areas of large folds such as the armpits, odour, navel and folds, palms and feet are primarily affected. In severe cases, the whole skin may be affected (erythroderma). This is life-threatening.
Psoriasis foci can cluster over a large area, resembling the outline of a map (geographic psoriasis). Or clusters distributed all over the torso, in size and extent resembling match heads (pitting psoriasis).
The most common causes of the disease are:
Despite recent advances in understanding the mechanism of psoriasis, psoriasis is difficult to treat; there is currently no cure and no single treatment method is suitable for everyone.
Several treatments may need to be tried before the most appropriate method is identified, and different treatments may be used simultaneously or alternated to achieve the best effect or minimise side effects.
For example: