Correct diagnosis of psoriasis

Proper diagnosis of your psoriasis helps to assure proper treatment. Many
doctors who are not dermatologists see very few patients with psoriasis. Your
family doctor may have difficulty in pinpointing the diagnosis, which could lead
to inappropriate treatment. That’s why it is important to consult a dermatologist
at the early stages of psoriasis.
The role of the dermatologist
Trained dermatologists can usually diagnose psoriasis simply by looking at the
skin and other key areas like the nails and scalp. However, dermatologists mayhave a harder time diagnosing unusual instances of psoriasis or cases that have
been incompletely treated by another doctor. Under these circumstances, the
doctor may have to wait for you to develop more typical features of psoriasis
before confirming the diagnosis.
In some cases, your dermatologist may suggest a skin biopsy to aid in the
diagnosis. This is a very simple and relatively painless procedure. In a skin
biopsy, the doctor takes very small samples of the skin, which has been numbed
by a local anaesthetic. These samples can then be examined under the
microscope and can reveal certain characteristics of psoriasis that will help the
dermatologist to diagnose your psoriasis and devise a treatment plan that will
work for you.
If your physician only treats mild cases of the disease, he or she may refer you
to a psoriasis specialist or psoriasis centre where more advanced facilities are
available.
Dermatologists can be supportive and positive when dealing with psoriasis. It
is important for the psoriasis patient to realize that:
• Many treatments are available to control their disease.
• Their disease can improve maximally or clear up for prolonged
periods of time with the correct use of different treatments.
• The impact of the disease on their daily lives can be reduced
significantly.
• Support groups, psychotherapy and counselling can lead to a major
improvement in feelings of self-esteem and ability to cope with
psoriasis.
• Improved treatments continue to be developed.
The purpose of this book is to assist the psoriasis patient in dealing with their
disease and to provide them with positive information about major
improvements in the treatment of the disease, which may result in many patients’
lives being considerably improved over the next decade, as these new treatments
become available.
There is no getting around the fact that psoriasis can be a difficult disease to
live with. In moderate to severe cases, patients experience pain and severe
discomfort. Their self-images can plummet. They understandably become tired of
messy and sometimes smelly creams.