Keeping Up with Kim and Psoriasis

Kim Kardashian has revealed she has psoriasis.  (Not ringworm, like Khloe originally thought).  She now joins the millions of other people affected with this condition.  So what is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory disease that can affect the skin and nails.  Although it's not completely clear what causes it, it is an autoimmune disease where the body's own white blood cells (T-cells) attack the skin. There is also a genetic component.  It happens equally in males and females, and usually appears when a person is in their late 20's, but it can be seen at any age, from babies to the elderly.  Severe stress tends to make it worse (i.e. the dermatologist told Kim to work less).

Typically, psoriasis looks like red patches with white silvery thick scale on top.  The patches can vary in size.  Common locations include the elbows, knees, scalp, abdomen, and loewr back.  Sometimes the patches can itch or burn.  The nails can show changes, too - pitting (which look like little indentations), oil spots (yellow areas), or can be thickened.  Patients can get arthritis which can affect the fingers and/or spine.  Sometimes psoriasis can occur after a strep throat infection, and will look like little patches the size of water droplets.

The course of psoriasis is unpredictable.  And unfortunately, currently there is no cure.  But there are a lot of great treatment options to help manage this skin disease and relieve the pain from arthritis.  A laser called the eximer laser is helpful for smaller areas or limited disease.  Light treatments in the dermatologist's office can help for more widespread disease.  Topical steroid, vitamin D, and retinoid creams and foams are often prescribed.  More more extensive disease, oral treatments are available.  The most recent class of medications are called the biologics.  These are injected by the patient every month and are extremely beneficial to relieve both the skin lesions and the arthritis.  Some names of medications you may have seen comercials for are enbrel, humira, and stellara.  They can make a huge difference in daily quality of life.

The bottom line: there's hope.