Psoriasis Symptoms & Care

Psoriasis Symptoms and Care: A Wollongong GP's Guide

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, and it is a good time to clear up a few common misconceptions. Psoriasis symptoms are often misunderstood, sometimes mistaken for dry skin or dismissed as something people just have to live with, when there is actually a fair amount that can be done to manage it well.

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a condition where skin cells build up faster than usual, forming raised, scaly patches. It is not contagious, and it is not caused by poor hygiene. It is an immune-mediated condition, meaning the immune system sends signals that speed up skin cell turnover more than the skin needs.

What Do Psoriasis Symptoms Actually Look Like?

Psoriasis symptoms vary from person to person, but there are some patterns that come up often.

Common Trigger Points

Elbows, knees, and the scalp are common areas, though psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, including nails and skin folds.

Flares Come and Go

Stress, weather changes, and certain medications can trigger flares. Between flares, skin can look and feel considerably calmer. If stress plays a role in your flares, it may help to understand more generally about the biology behind stress and what evidence-based support for it looks like.

Is Psoriasis Just a Skin Condition?

Not entirely. Because it is driven by the immune system, psoriasis is considered a whole-body condition rather than a purely cosmetic one. Some people also experience joint pain alongside skin changes, which is worth mentioning to your GP if it comes up.

Can Psoriasis Be Managed?

There is no single cure, but there are many ways to manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of flares with the right plan, developed with your GP based on your particular pattern of symptoms.

When Should You See a GP About Psoriasis?

If you have persistent scaly patches, patches that are spreading, or joint pain alongside skin changes, it is worth getting checked rather than waiting it out. A proper skin examination can also rule out other conditions that can look similar from a distance.

Winter, when skin is covered up most of the time, is actually a practical time to book a check, before warmer months bring more sun exposure and new spots to keep an eye on. This is a similar principle to the one behind our earlier piece on why skin checks in winter are worth doing sooner rather than later, and dermoscopy, a specialised way of examining skin more closely than the naked eye allows, is useful for psoriasis as well as mole checks.

Did you know that Dr Marisa Nguyen is trained in dermoscopy/ skin checks?

Book a skin check at Embrace Medical

Psoriasis is common, manageable, and nothing to feel embarrassed about raising with your GP. If something on your skin has been bothering you, that is reason enough to book a visit.

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