Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.Having done my thesis in Psoriasis i have always had a special interest in this field and do consider myself a specialist in it. The patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body. Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.Many a times it goes undiagnosed too as patients dont bother to consult a doctor. Psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the world. It can start at any age, but most often develops in adults under 35 years old. The condition affects men and women equally. The severity of psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some people it's just a minor irritation, but for others it can have a major impact on their quality of life. Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) disease that usually involves periods when you have no symptoms or mild symptoms, followed by periods when symptoms are more severe. Why it happens: People with psoriasis have an increased production of skin cells. Skin cells are normally made and replaced every three to four weeks, but in psoriasis this process only lasts about three to seven days. The resulting build-up of skin cells is what creates the patches associated with psoriasis. Although the process isn't fully understood, it's thought to be related to a problem with the immune system. The immune system is your body's defence against disease and infection, but for people with psoriasis, it attacks healthy skin cells by mistake. Psoriasis can run in families, although the exact role that genetics plays in causing psoriasis is unclear. Many people's psoriasis symptoms start or become worse because of a certain event, known as a "trigger"..

Possible triggers of psoriasis include an injury to your skin, throat infections and using certain medicines .Although in my opinion i attribute stress as a major factor. The condition isn't contagious, so it can't be spread from person to person. Treating psoriasis There's no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches. In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids. Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin. If these aren't effective, or your condition is more severe, a treatment called phototherapy may be used. In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. Certain medicines like Methotrexate, Acitretin and Cyclosporine give excellent results and with the introduction of Biologicals in India we are able to provide world class treatment at affordable costs.Our clinic was among the first in Kerala to start Biological treatment for Psoriasis which gives the patient a longer remission period. My advise to patients affected is please dont fall prey to fraud treatments which claim to cure it, please have a scientific approach towards it .Please consult a Dermatologist for treatment!!! Although psoriasis is just a minor irritation for some people, it can have a significant impact on quality of life for those more severely affected.