Psoriasis

Key points

• An overactive immune response speeds the turnover of skin cells so much that they accumulate into thick, scaly raised areas rather than shedding normally.
• Stress, a skin injury, certain infections, smoking or excessive drinking can each set off a flare.
• For milder, more limited plaques, corticosteroid creams paired with frequent moisturiser use are usually the first line of care.
• Where the condition covers larger areas or involves the joints, drugs acting on the immune system itself come into play.

What drives psoriasis

Psoriasis is immune-mediated, not contagious. Genetics load the dice, and a flare is usually set off by a trigger: stress, skin injury, infection (a sore throat can spark guttate psoriasis), certain medicines, smoking or heavy alcohol. Cold, dry air often worsens plaques, while sunlight tends to calm them. In humid climates, sweat and friction can irritate plaques in skin folds, so flares sometimes track the seasons differently than they do in cooler climates.

How psoriasis is treated

Treatment is matched to how widespread and severe the condition is. Mild to moderate plaques usually respond to topical skin care options, including steroid creams and ointments such as betamethasone, mometasone, clobetasol and triamcinolone, often paired with regular moisturising to soften scale. When psoriasis is extensive or also affects the joints, systemic autoimmune support medicines like methotrexate and ciclosporin work on the immune response itself. Light therapy is another route a specialist may suggest.

Living with psoriasis

Day-to-day care makes a real difference: moisturise often, avoid scratching, keep showers lukewarm, and notice your own triggers. See a doctor if plaques spread fast, become painful or infected, or if you develop stiff, swollen joints, which can signal psoriatic arthritis and is worth treating early.

Further reading

• Psoriasis: Symptoms, Causes, Images & Treatment
• Psoriasis - NHS