Psoriasis

Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches

Dermatologists servicing the areas of Atlantis, FL, Delray Beach, FL, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Trinity, FL, Wellington, FL & West Palm Beach, FL, New Port Richey, FL, Odessa, FL, Lutz, FL, Land O'Lakes, FL, Wesley Chapel, FL, & Tampa, FL

Over eight million Americans struggle with psoriasis, a painful skin condition that leads to thickened patches and seriously flaky skin. If you suffer from psoriasis, the team at Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches, with locations in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Atlantis, Wellington, Delray Beach, and Trinity, Florida, can help you get started on treatment. Restore your healthier skin, and get the psoriasis relief you deserve by booking an evaluation online or calling the office today.

Psoriasis Q & A

What causes psoriasis?

Your skin cells turn over regularly: Old skin cells slough away, while newer skin cells rise to the surface. But with psoriasis, your body produces skin cells so rapidly that they don’t have ample time to shed. When this occurs, skin cells build up on top of one another, forming thickened patches called plaques. 

Though the exact cause of psoriasis isn’t well-understood, medical experts find that psoriasis sufferers often have a problem with certain white blood cells known as T cells and neutrophils. 

When these types of white blood cells become overactive, they’re constantly working to repair your skin, even though nothing is wrong. This is what leads to the buildup of skin cells. 

Psoriasis can run in families, and once you develop it, you have it for life, which is why it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms and ensure you’re managing it properly. 

What are the symptoms of psoriasis?

As many as 80-90% of cases of psoriasis are plaque psoriasis, which leads to thickened patches of skin most commonly on your knees, elbows, lower back, or scalp. These patches may be raised and flaky. But you can also develop:

  • Nail psoriasis, which leads to pitting and discoloration
  • Inverse psoriasis, which leads to redness in the folds of your skin due to friction  
  • Guttate psoriasis, which causes small scaling lesions on your trunk and extremities

Psoriatic arthritis is another psoriasis-related condition that leads to widespread inflammation and scaly skin, in addition to sore, swollen joints. 

Since learning to manage psoriasis requires ongoing medical intervention, schedule an evaluation at Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches if you think you have psoriasis or have been struggling with the skin condition for a long time. 

Is there an effective treatment for psoriasis?

Yes, the team at Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches is dedicated to helping you prevent agonizing psoriasis flare-ups and minimizing their severity. Your psoriasis treatment plan is tailored to you, whether your symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe, and can include:

  • Vitamin D analog cream
  • Clinical-strength moisturizers  
  • Topical corticosteroid ointments 
  • Oral prescription medications to slow skin cell growth
  • Salicylic acid solutions (to promote sloughing of dead skin cells)

The team at Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches knows how psoriasis can affect patients and can help you find an effective psoriasis treatment, even if you haven’t had success in the past.   

If you have psoriasis, you have options for treatment at Dermatology Associates of the Palm Beaches. Book your psoriasis evaluation either online or over the phone today.