Is Psoriasis a Permanent Condition?

Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for psoriasis. So if you’re one of the 7.5 million people in the United States with psoriasis, the chances are good that you’ll need to manage the condition for the rest of your life.

At Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics, board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, has extensive experience diagnosing and treating psoriasis. Dr. Bushore offers a range of therapies that not only address psoriasis symptoms, but they also help protect the long-term health of your skin.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that stems from immune system dysfunction. For reasons that aren’t well understood, the immune system triggers the body to produce skin cells at an increased rate.

This produces scaly, raised patches of skin on the body, often on the scalp, knees, and elbows. These patches can be very itchy and sore. Some people may also have patches of skin that crack open and bleed. Psoriasis can also affect your nails, making them thick or pitted.

While psoriasis is a chronic disease, the symptoms may come and go. Some people with psoriasis will have periods of time when their skin looks and feels healthy, while others may have persistent symptoms.

Why is treating psoriasis important?

If you have psoriasis or think you do, you should get a diagnosis from board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, as soon as possible. Beyond the irritation psoriasis can cause, the chronic dryness of the condition could cause you to scratch open patches of skin. This, in turn, could lead to permanent skin damage and noticeable scars.

The good news is that Dr. Bushore can customize a treatment plan to quickly relieve your dry, cracked, scaly skin. As part of your plan, Dr. Bushore can also integrate the use of long-term therapeutics to protect your skin’s health and lower your risk for suffering repeated flare-ups.

How is psoriasis treated?

The goals of treating psoriasis are to relieve symptoms, to stop skin cells from multiplying too quickly, and to prevent permanent skin damage. Every individual is different, but here are some strategies board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, may recommend as part of your treatment plan.

Medications

Depending on the frequency and severity of your symptoms, Dr. Bushore may recommend applying topical treatments that contain:

• Vitamin D
• Retinoids
• Corticosteroids
• Keratolytics (scale lifters)
• Topical immunomodulators/non-steroids/calcineurin inhibitors

Dr. Bushore may also recommend medications that you take orally or that he may inject into the irritated skin patches to help provide long-lasting symptom relief.

Trigger avoidance

Dr. Bushore can help you identify triggers of psoriasis symptoms, such as skin injuries and excess stress, so you can make the necessary modifications in your life to help prevent psoriasis flare-ups.

Skin rejuvenation

Board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, also offers nonsurgical aesthetic services in-office, including laser treatments, injectables, and microneedling, to help minimize the appearance of scars that may have developed from previous psoriasis flare-ups. He can determine if any of these treatments would be a good fit based on your skin health and psoriasis triggers.

To learn more about your options for better managing psoriasis flare-ups, call 512-459-4869 or book an appointment online with Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics today.