Psoriasis is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees and knuckles, and usually starts in your 20's. It can be genetic, or caused by an infection, but it is often aggravated by stress.
Moisturizers are an important part of psoriasis treatment, as they loosen the scales. It is good to try and keep skin moisturized at all times. Tar treatments, like Neutrogena Tar Shampoo can help psoriasis on the scalp. Aloe vera gel can be very useful in the treatment of psoriasis; controlled studies have shown improvements in 25 out of 30 patients.
Your doctor can prescribe topical medicines like Vitamin D creams, or steroid creams. After applying a cream, it can be helpful to cover the area with a bandage. UV light treatments are will be effective in some cases, and drugs like Raptiva may be prescribed. This is administered by a once weekly injection, and has been shown to have a 60% success rate.
Therapies can be used in rotation, or can be combined to increase their potency. Your doctor will be able to advise the best combination of therapies for you.Important psoriasis information
Psoriasis is not infectious, so you don't need to worry about passing it on to anyone else. It is also not your fault! Psoriasis is an inherited condition, and not the result of bad diet or other lifestyle factors.
However, it can be aggravated by stress, so stress-management is an important part of psoriasis treatment. Only you can decide on the best means of controlling your individual stresses. Finally, seek help, as the proper psoriasis medicines will help to beat your psoriasis.