Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. It is a common skin disease that can affect 1 in 50 people. Men and women have equal risk of developing psoriasis. Due to overly hastened turnover of the skin cells, the outermost skin layer is not able to shed-off in time. This leads to appearance of thick, red to pink scaly and flaky bumps on the skin.
The exact cause of psoriasis remains unknown. It is believed environmental, genetic factor, and immune system have interplayed roles in psoriasis. About one third of psoriasis patients have family members with the same skin condition.
There are 5 types of psoriasis.
The average age of onset of Psoriasis is in mid 20s, with a second peak of incidence in the mid 50s-60s age group. Both men and women are at equal risk of developing psoriasis. Family history of Psoriasis is a known risk factor for a person to develop Psoriasis.
When Psoriasis condition is not controlled, one may experience skin discomfort such as itch, tightness over the rash, pain or experience joint pain. You are advised to seek medical attention early if you have Psoriatic rashes as there are effective treatment to manage Psoriasis.
It is a clinical diagnosis based on history and physical examination of the skin rash. In situation where the diagnosis is uncertain, your doctor may offer you skin biopsy procedure to obtain skin sample to aid the diagnosis of the skin condition.
Unfortunately, Psoriasis tends to run a persistent course. Nonetheless, there are effective clinical treatment options available. Speak to your doctor on treatment options.
The goal of treatment is to control the condition, reduce flaring, and maintain a decent quality of life. As 75% of Psoriasis cases are mild-moderate severity in presentation, topical treatment such as coal tar, steroid cream, vitamin D3 derivatives (calcipotriol) are beneficial in managing the condition.
In more severe cases, your doctor may advise second line treatment such as phototherapy, oral immunosuppressants or biologics. You are advised to discuss with your doctors on your condition as treatment should be tailored individually.
You are advised to avoid triggers that can worsen Psoriasis. As new Psoriasis rashes can appear over site of skin trauma or injury, you are advised to avoid scratching, lasers, tattooing or unnecessary surgical procedure on the skin.
Maintaining overall good immune system is important as Psoriasis flare up may occur following infection. Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking should be avoided to prevent worsening of Psoriasis.
Your doctor may also screen through your medication lists as blood pressure or mood stabilizer medication may trigger Psoriasis.
Checking the skin or nail lesion with wood lamp involves shining a hand-held wood lamp device on the area of concern by your physician.
Cryotherapy or colloquially known as ‘cold therapy’ is a procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to deliver freezing cold temperature locally to destroy and remove abnormal skin lesion.
Electrocautery is a bedside procedure where your doctor will use an ‘electric pen’ to deliver high frequency electric current onto the skin to generate heat in order to stop bleeding or remove abnormal skin cells
A steroid injection is simple bedside procedure where your doctor will inject minute amount of steroid onto the skin.
Skin cancer screening is usually performed by your physician using a dermatoscope. Dermatoscope is a medical magnifying glass that allows your physician to visualize the size and shape of the mole that you are concerned of.
Fungal scrape and bacterial culture tests allow physician to confirm or debunk fungal/bacterial diagnosis of skin condition
Skin tags are benign. They are also known as acrochordons medically. They are small, soft overgrowth of the skin commonly located among the face, eyelids neck, armpit, groin, breasts and buttock folds.
An excision biopsy is a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical blade to remove the entire skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.
A shave biopsy a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical superficial shaving blade to remove the skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.
A skin biopsy, or punch biopsy, is a bedside surgical procedure where your physician will use a small knife ‘puncher’ to obtain a small skin sample under local anaesthesia.
Herpes zoster, commonly referred to as shingles, is a painful blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus— the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory condition of the skin. It is categorized as a type of chronic eczema, affecting the body area that has more sebaceous glands. characterized by red, greasy scaly patches.
Living in a hot humid climate of Singapore, fungal infection of the skin is common. The fungus thrives and favors body areas that are moist and warm such as the armpit, breast folds, groin, buttocks, feet, toes or even nails.
Eczema is a common inflammation condition of the skin. Although eczema can occur any time in one’s life, it typically starts presenting when one is a child.
Nearly 20% of people will get hives at some point in their lifetime. While they may not be life-threatening, hives can potentially cause both physical and emotional issues, particularly if they occur frequently.
Your body’s natural reaction to pokes, cuts, and trauma to your skin is to heal. On most occasions, skin injuries heal up without any problems.
Acne is a skin inflammatory condition that virtually affects every adolescent at some point during their teenage years. However, some adults may remain affected during their twenties or thirties.
Alopecia Areata is a patchy non-scarring hair loss condition that a person develops coin-sized round baldness over the scalp. It is postulated that the body’s immune system attacks the growing hair leading to hair loss.
Male Pattern Hair Loss is also medically known as Androgenic Alopecia. It is a common condition in men, when this type of hair loss occurs in females, it is termed Female Pattern Hair Loss.
Female pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss seen in women. In males, this equivalent is male pattens hair loss, or androgenic alopecia.
Your body’s immune system is naturally wired to fend off infections and pathogens to keep you healthy.
A pet allergy refers to a reaction that you have toward your pet’s skin, dander, saliva, or urine. On most occasions, it is the dead skin cells that cause the pet allergy.
A dust mite allergy refers to an allergic reaction to dust-mite wastes. The waste of dust mites and our bodies can trigger allergic reactions.
While allergy treatment medications are available and can be effective to a certain degree, they don’t cure people of allergies.
Allergies can occur to anyone, anytime. Allergies can affect our daily activities and reduce our quality of lives.
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