08/21/2009

PSORIASIS RUNS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Most people are aware that psoriasis, which affects about 7.5 million people in this country, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes itchy red plaques on the skin. Severe cases, in which large areas of the body are affected, have been linked with the development of arthritis, depression, and other problems. Recently, evidence has come forth to show that women with psoriasis also run a higher risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure. These new findings may be related to the inflammation that causes the skin condition. Some dermatologists, therefore, are suggesting that psoriasis should perhaps be considered more of a systemic disorder than merely a skin disease. In any case, women suffering from psoriasis should take heed.

Psoriasis often appears on the scalp, knees, or elbows. The sooner a skin disease is detected, the more likely is a successful management and treatment program. If you have scaly skin or experience skin discomfort, please call ELMHURST DERMATOLOGY at 630-832-2111 to schedule a skin evaluation. Our services include diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of infections, inflammation, growths, and other skin conditions. We are located at 103 N. Haven, Suite 7, Elmhurst. We accept most medical insurance, Visa, and MasterCard.

P.S. Because the new findings mentioned above were restricted solely to Caucasian women, they cannot be more generally applied to men or other races.