Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, affecting beteween the 2 – 6 % of the general population with no differences about genre. It usually begins between 15 – 35, but can occur at any age. Plaque is the most common form of psoriasis and can affect any part of the body, but the most frequent localizations are the scalp (> 50%) and the nails (30-50%). The degree of severity depends on the percentage of the body affected and on the erythema, thickness and scales present in the affected area. It can occurs with or without pruritus. There are a number of internal and external triggers that can have a direct impact on the onset and developing of the condition, such as: a genetic predisposition, climatic conditions (humidity, cold), emotional stress, mechanical traumas, infections, the intakke of some drugs or the concomitance with othere patologies (hypertension, obesity, CV diseases or diabetes mellitus). Due to its clinical manifestations it can have a great impact on the patient’s quality of life. The basic treatment goals are to reduce the thicknes and extension of the plaque, to reduce the inflammation and to reduce the desquamation, toguether with provide adequate topical hydration and emollience and ensure the longest possible symptom-free period. In general, the mild form tends to respond to topical measures while the moderate form requires phototherapy treatments. The treatment of the severe form is more complex and often requires systemic measures.