Treatment of psoriasis

Treatment of psoriasis

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:

  • Carrying out a comprehensive examination in order to determine the exact cause of the disease.
  • Selection of optimal individualised treatment according to the indications of the patient's body and the clinical picture of the disease.
  • Cleansing the body of decay products.
  • Elimination of infections.
  • Full recovery of the body

What is psoriasis?

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:

  • elbows
  • knees,
  • the scalp,
  • Skin affected over a larger area

Symptoms of psoriasis

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).

Causes of psoriasis

The most common causes of the disease are:

  • stress, overwork, exhaustion of the nervous system;
  • weakening of the immune system;
  • various endocrine disorders;
  • infectious diseases, bacterial, fungal, parasitic damage to the body;
  • genetic abnormalities;
  • intoxication of the body;
  • trauma and injuries;
  • unbalanced diet;
  • bad habits.

Principles of psoriasis treatment

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.

Treatments for adults with psoriasis include:

  • General measures
  • Topical medications
  • Ultraviolet therapy
  • Systemic non-biological therapy
  • Systemic biological therapy.

The choice of treatment for psoriasis depends on a number of factors.

For example:

  • Nature of the disease
  • Severity of the disease: the area of body surface affected and the psoriasis area and severity index.
  • Impact of the disease: symptoms and dermatological quality of life index
  • Patient preferences
  • Acceptability and practicality of treatment
  • Patient's age and general health status
  • Comorbidities (e.g., psoriatic arthritis, kidney disease or liver disease )
  • Taking other medications
  • Plans to conceive or current pregnancy
  • Treatment goals (e.g., improving nail psoriasis or achieving 90% improvement )