New treatment options offer help with the most severe cases. In psoriasis patients, the skin cells mature in four to seven days, causing the dead cells to accumulate and create lesions. The cause of psoriasis is unknown. Research suggests some type of stimulus affects the immune system, setting off the abnormally fast skin cell growth. The signs of psoriasis include itching and unsightly appearance.
Treatment depends on the severity of the disease.
For milder cases, Dr. Grimwood prescribes a cortisone-based topical cream. Treatment with UVA light may be accompanied by Psoralen, a medication given to the patient before light therapy to make the patient s skin more susceptible to light. It takes 20 to 30 sessions to see noticeable improvement, and the effects of PUVA last up to one year. Controversy surrounds PUVA treatments because of fears that the treatments increase the risk of skin cancer. But we follow the patients closely, which is vital, and cause for alarm is very minimal under careful physician guidance.