We are excited to welcome Dr. Johnson to the Skin Care Doctors team! Dr. Johnson is here for all of your dermatologic needs and is accepting new patients.
Schedule with Dr. Johnson online HERE or call us at 952-898-1600
If chronic, itchy, uncomfortable patches of skin are making it hard to sleep or focus, our medical providers at Skin Care Doctors offer practical solutions to clear up even the most severe cases of psoriasis.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition. There are five types, each with unique signs and symptoms. Regardless of type, psoriasis often causes discomfort. The skin itches and may crack and bleed. Severe itching and discomfort may make sleeping difficult, and the pain can make everyday tasks difficult. Psoriasis is a chronic or lifelong condition because there is currently no cure. People often experience flares and remissions throughout their life. Controlling the symptoms typically requires lifelong therapy.
More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with psoriasis, and approximately 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, with an estimated 20% having moderate to severe psoriasis. Psoriasis occurs in males and females about equally, and recent studies show that there may be an ethnic link. Approximately a third of people who develop psoriasis have one or more family members with the condition.
About 1 in 10 people develop psoriasis during childhood, and psoriasis can begin in infancy. The earlier psoriasis appears, the more likely it is to be widespread and recurrent. Research shows that the signs of psoriasis usually appear between ages 15 and 35, with about 75% developing psoriasis before age 40. It is possible, however, to develop psoriasis at any age.
Between 10% to 30% of people who develop psoriasis get a related form of arthritis called “psoriatic arthritis,” which causes inflammation of the joints. Psoriatic arthritis develops in roughly one million people across the United States, and 5% to 10% experience some disability. Psoriatic arthritis usually first appears between 30 and 50 years of age — often months to years after skin lesions first occur. However, not everyone who develops psoriatic arthritis has psoriasis. About 30% of people with psoriatic arthritis never develop the skin condition.
All types of psoriasis, ranging from mild to severe, can affect a person’s quality of life. Our medical providers know that living with this lifelong condition can be physically and emotionally challenging.
Itching, soreness, and cracked and bleeding skin are common. Nail psoriasis can be painful. Even the simple act of squeezing a tube of toothpaste can hurt. One woman described her psoriasis as “a bad sunburn that won’t go away.”
Several studies have shown that people often feel frustrated. In some cases, psoriasis limits activities and makes it difficult to perform job responsibilities. The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that those with psoriasis lose 56 million work hours yearly.
Additionally, a survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation in 2002 indicates that 26% of people living with moderate to severe psoriasis have been forced to change or discontinue their normal daily activities.
Studies have also shown that stress, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem are part of daily life for people with psoriasis. One study found that thoughts of suicide are three times higher for psoriatics than in the general population.
Embarrassment is another familiar feeling. Imagine getting your hair cut and noticing that the stylist or barber is visibly uncomfortable. What if you extended your hand to someone, and the person recoiled? How would you feel if you spent most of your life trying to hide your skin?
Psoriasis treatments fall into three categories:
