Psoriasis & Me
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that causes your epidermal (skin) cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery, or red patches. Normally, skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks. New skin cells then replace the ones that are lost. However, in psoriasis this process happens over the course of days rather than weeks so that the skin cells build up and form thick patches known as ‘plaques’. Psoriasis is thought to occur when the immune system overreacts. This causes inflammation and the characteristic itchy patches of psoriasis. In some cases, psoriasis runs in families. It cannot be spread by touch, and is not contagious.
What are the signs and symptoms?
As you may have experienced, the symptoms of psoriasis include areas of inflamed skin that are often covered with peeling silvery scales. These patches of skin can become uncomfortable, itchy, painful and may bleed. Psoriasis can affect many parts of your body, including the elbows, knees, groin and genitals, arms, legs, palms and soles, scalp and face, body folds and nails. You may have noticed that there are particular times when your psoriasis worsens. For example, during stress, in cold and dry climates, or after taking certain medications.
How to reduce the impact of psoriasis on my day-to-day life?
You and your doctor have decided on COSENTYX® treatment to help reduce the scaling, itching and pain associated with psoriasis. But beyond your treatment, there are a variety of lifestyle improvements that can help to clear your skin and improve how you feel from the inside out.
