At Center For Dermatology Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, physicians deal with a variety of diseases, including psoriasis, at both California offices: Fremont and Milpitas.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious chronic skin disease that is a result of a person’s immune system signaling skin cells to grow too quickly. New skin cells form in days as oppose to weeks and the body does not shed excess skin cells. So, skin cells accumulate on a person’s skin, causing patches of psoriasis.

Types of Psoriasis

• Plaque: It appears on the skin in patches of thick, red, scaly skin that may feel painful, swollen, or hot, and the most common form of psoriasis.
• Guttate (eruptive psoriasis): It appears as small teardrop-shaped lesions on the skin and doesn’t normally leave a scar. People usually get it as a child or young adult and patches aren’t as thick as plaque psoriasis.
• Inverse: This type of psoriasis is sometimes called hidden psoriasis because it affects skin folds or where skin rubs against skin, like under your arms, under a woman’s breasts, in the groin, or the inner thigh area.
• Pustular: This type of psoriasis is characterized by blisters that contain noninfectious pus. It usually affects adults and is limited to areas like hands and feet. People should try to avoid certain trigger factors, like irritating topical agents, overexposure to UV light, and systemic steroids, just to name a few.
• Erythrodermic: This psoriasis is uncommon and aggressive, causing a skin peeling rash across the entire body and spreading quickly.

Managing Psoriasis in Fremont and Milpitas CA

Psoriasis is incurable but there are ways to manage it:

• Salicylic acid ointment that smoothes out skin by promoting the shedding of psoriatic scales.
• Steroid-based creams that decrease inflammation, relieve itching and block the production of cells.
• Coal-tar ointments and shampoos that help slow the rapid growth of skin cells and alleviate symptoms.
• Prescription retinoids contain a synthetic form of vitamin A that improves psoriasis.
• Phototherapy
• Oral and injectable medications, like methotrexate and oral retinoids
• Newer targeted therapy such as Otezla and biologics

Need to speak with a doctor?

If you are experiencing symptoms of psoriasis, call Center for Dermatology Cosmetic and Laser Surgery. For our Fremont CA office, call 510-797-4111. For the Milpitas CA office, call 408-957-7676.