Daerim Station Dermatology Specialist: What Should You Be Careful About in Psoriasis Treatment and Management?

Many people apply highly moisturizing creams for healthy skin and pay attention to sun protection regardless of the season.

However, skin is a more unpredictable organ than many expect.

No matter how diligently you care for it, stress, environmental pollution, and dietary habits can rapidly make various areas of the skin sensitive.

In particular, when there is a problem with the immune system inside the body, the skin can undergo unexpected changes.

Psoriasis is a skin disease caused by a problem in the body's immune system.

It can cause thick scales and red rashes, and may even be accompanied by mild itching.

And if you keep scratching the skin because of this, the scales may fall off, and the skin can crack or bleed.

In addition, as time passes, the symptoms may gradually worsen, leading not only to physical discomfort but also psychological withdrawal and difficulty in social activities.

That is why, if you are stressed by psoriasis symptoms, it is best to plan treatment as soon as possible.

Today, as a dermatologist at Daerim Station, I would like to explain in detail how to prevent psoriasis from worsening and how phototherapy works.

I hope the following article will be helpful to those who want to regain healthy skin.

• Today's column order -

1. Causes of psoriasis and how to prevent worsening
2. Symptoms that may suggest psoriasis
3. Psoriasis phototherapy

Psoriasis: Causes and ways to prevent worsening

The skin naturally stays balanced as new cells are born at regular intervals and old cells are gradually pushed outward.

But when the immune system becomes overactive, the skin cell turnover cycle can speed up rapidly, causing various problems.

In particular, skin cells produced too quickly may pile up in layers without being properly shed, forming white, thick scales.

In addition, inflammatory reactions can occur during this process, making the skin red and causing a stinging sensation.

Therefore, to maintain a healthy immune system, it is important to manage it consistently.

When stress is severe, the body secretes stress hormones, and these hormones can disrupt the immune system and worsen inflammation.

So it is advisable to manage stress by finding your own ways to relieve it, such as yoga, meditation, light exercise, or reading.

Also, since psoriasis is known to be closely related to tonsillitis, making handwashing and mask-wearing part of daily life may be helpful.

Lastly, skin with psoriasis may already be in a sensitive and weakened state.

That is why it is good to apply enough moisturizer to protect the skin, and it is advisable to apply moisturizer within 3 minutes after showering to lock in moisture.

Psoriasis: Warning signals from the skin!

As mentioned earlier, when psoriasis develops, thick white scales can build up on the skin.

However, there are many skin diseases that can cause scaling.

That said, psoriasis has the characteristic that its symptoms mainly appear in areas with prominent bones and frequent friction, such as the knees, elbows, scalp, and lower back.

And even without scratching the affected area, the symptoms may gradually worsen.

In addition, a feeling of dryness only in the affected area, rather than throughout the body, can be considered a characteristic of psoriasis.

Moreover, psoriasis is a skin disease that can have serious effects on the whole body, and it can cause nail deformities.

In severe cases, the nails may lift or change color, and it can even lead to cardiovascular disease.

This is why early treatment of psoriasis is important.

How does psoriasis phototherapy work?

Phototherapy uses a specific wavelength to correct the main cause of psoriasis.

To explain the treatment process in detail, phototherapy is first performed by applying mineral oil or petroleum jelly to the affected area so that the skin can absorb light more effectively.

Then the treatment is completed by exposing the area to ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 311 nm for a certain period of time.

In this way, by controlling skin inflammation and immune responses, which are the fundamental causes of psoriasis, the symptoms can gradually improve.

In the case of phototherapy, there is no separate surgical procedure, so the burden is relatively low, and it also has the advantage of making treatment easier for larger areas such as the knees and elbows.

However, if the treatment intensity is too strong, it can cause burns, just like being exposed to sunlight for too long.

Therefore, it may be advisable to carefully adjust the treatment intensity according to the patient's skin condition and the severity of the symptoms.

Also, it may be difficult to expect satisfactory improvement from just one or two phototherapy sessions.

So it is best to receive treatment according to the schedule and number of sessions provided by the medical staff.

Skin care is not a sprint; it is a marathon.

It does not end after one treatment, and it requires consistent care and maintenance.

In particular, since psoriasis is a chronic disease, treatment and management should be carried out with the goal of symptom control.

And I can say that the most important thing is to consult with medical staff, check your current condition, and adjust the treatment method when necessary.

I hope this column written by a dermatologist at Daerim Station will be helpful to those who are stressed by psoriasis symptoms.

If you have any questions beyond the information above, please leave them in the comments below.

We will kindly answer them.

Thank you for reading the article by a dermatologist at Daerim Station to the end.

| This post was written for informational purposes in compliance with Article 56, Paragraphs 1 to 15 of the Medical Service Act. All treatments carry the risk of side effects and complications depending on the individual. Before treatment, be sure to have a thorough consultation with experienced medical staff and make your decision afterward. |