When you have psoriasis, your skin creates too many cells. The excess skin cells cause patches of scaly, thickened skin that can itch or burn. And while psoriasis can come in many different forms, at least 80% of people with this skin condition have a specific type called plaque psoriasis.
With plaque psoriasis, you get raised, noticeable areas (the plaques) of irritated, dry, discolored skin. The plaques usually appear on your knees, elbows, back, and head. If you get a plaque on one side of your body (for example, on your left elbow), you might get another symmetrical plaque (on your right elbow).
Fortunately, wherever your plaque psoriasis appears, our team at LUX Dermatology can help. At our offices throughout California and Nevada, we offer dedicated psoriasis care. Generally, we recommend a multi-pronged approach to managing your psoriasis. Your personalized treatment plan might include some or all of these management techniques.
Your skin is unique. Certain behaviors, exposures, and lifestyle choices can contribute to your plaque psoriasis. It might be helpful to keep a log. Each day, write down how your skin is doing and what you did.
Track things like:
Tracking your skin over time can help you identify triggers that worsen your psoriasis. Then, you can avoid those triggers, helping to minimize your plaques.
At our LUX Dermatology offices, we often recommend plaque psoriasis treatment with the XTRAC® laser. This allows us to send concentrated ultraviolet (UV) B light into your psoriasis, which can help to break up the immune cells that cause your plaque.
Overheating can worsen your psoriasis. As the summer warms up, seek out shade and air conditioning to keep your body temperature regulated.
While researchers haven’t yet found a cure for psoriasis, they have uncovered a number of treatments to help. We offer topical, oral, and injected medications that can soothe your plaques.
Our team of psoriasis experts evaluates your specific skin and tailors a treatment plan for you. We can help you find the right medication or medication(s) to ease your discomfort and minimize your plaque psoriasis.
Your skin relies on a moisture barrier to fight irritation. To ease any discomfort from your plaques, take steps to protect that barrier. That means using gentle soap in the shower or bath and moisturizing right afterward. Regularly apply more moisturizer throughout the day. Our team can help you find the right moisturizer for your specific skin’s needs.
We might also recommend adding a humidifier to strategic rooms in your home. That’s particularly true if you live in a dry climate.
Ultimately, you have options when it comes to managing your plaque psoriasis. To learn which techniques may work best for your unique skin, call one of our offices in California or Nevada, or book a visit online today.
