Psoriasis Treatment in Jammu

Is psoriasis contagious?

No. Psoriasis is not contagious.

It cannot spread through:

• Touching
• Hugging
• Sharing towels
• Swimming together
• Sexual contact
• Sharing food
• Living in the same household

Psoriasis is related to immune-system activity, genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers. It is not caused by an infection that can pass from one person to another.

Is psoriasis caused by poor hygiene?

No.

Psoriasis is not caused by:

• Dirty skin
• Infrequent bathing
• Poor personal hygiene
• Eating a particular food
• A fungal infection
• Failure to exfoliate
• Contact with another patient

Aggressive scrubbing can irritate the skin and may worsen psoriasis rather than remove it.

What does psoriasis look like?

The appearance varies according to the type, body area and natural skin tone.

Common signs include:

• Raised or thickened patches
• Dry scale
• Itching
• Burning
• Soreness
• Cracking
• Bleeding after scratching
• Flaking from the scalp
• Changes in the nails

Plaque psoriasis frequently affects the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, although it can appear anywhere.

How does psoriasis appear on Indian skin?

On lighter skin, psoriasis often looks pink or red with silvery-white scale.

On medium-to-deep skin tones, it may look:

• Violet
• Purple-brown
• Dark brown
• Greyish
• Less visibly red
• More thickly scaled

After a flare clears, Indian skin may retain temporary darker or lighter patches. These colour changes are not necessarily scars and may take months to fade.

This difference in appearance can sometimes cause psoriasis to be mistaken for fungal infection, eczema or pigmentation.

Plaque psoriasis

This is the most common form. It produces raised plaques with scale, frequently on the scalp, elbows, knees or lower back.

Guttate psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis produces many small scaly spots, often across the trunk, arms or legs. It can begin after an infection such as streptococcal throat infection and is seen commonly in children and young adults.

Inverse psoriasis

Inverse or flexural psoriasis affects skin folds such as:

• Underarms
• Groin
• Beneath the breasts
• Buttock crease

It may appear smooth, shiny, sore and inflamed, with less obvious scale because of moisture and friction.

Pustular psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis causes pus-filled bumps on inflamed skin. Localised forms may affect the palms and soles. Widespread pustular psoriasis accompanied by fever or chills requires urgent medical care.

Erythrodermic psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis causes extensive inflammation and shedding over a large part of the body. It may disturb body temperature and fluid balance and can become life-threatening.

What is nail psoriasis?

Psoriasis may affect one or more fingernails or toenails.

Possible signs include:

• Tiny pits
• Yellow, white or brown discolouration
• Crumbling
• Thickening
• Separation from the nail bed
• Debris beneath the nail
• Pain or tenderness

Nail psoriasis may occur with or without obvious skin plaques. Nail changes can also be associated with psoriatic arthritis, so they should be mentioned during consultation.

Fungal nail infection can look similar and may need testing before treatment.

Can psoriasis affect the face or genital area?

Yes.

Psoriasis can affect:

• Eyelids
• Hairline
• Behind the ears
• Around the nose
• Genital skin
• Groin folds
• Buttock crease

These areas have thinner or more sensitive skin, so medication prescribed for an elbow or knee may be unsuitable for the face or genital region. A separate treatment plan may be needed.

Genital psoriasis is not sexually transmitted and cannot be passed to a partner.

What causes psoriasis?

Psoriasis appears to result from an interaction between:

• Genetic susceptibility
• Immune-system activity
• Environmental triggers

Having a relative with psoriasis can increase risk, but not everyone with a family history develops the condition. A trigger may cause psoriasis to appear or flare in a genetically susceptible person.

What can trigger a psoriasis flare?

Triggers differ between patients and may include:

• Emotional stress
• Skin injury
• Cuts or scratches
• Sunburn
• Throat or other infections
• Cold, dry weather
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Certain medicines
• Abrupt changes to some systemic treatments

Patients should not stop a prescribed medicine independently. Tell the prescribing doctor when a suspected medicine appears to worsen psoriasis.

Can an injury cause a new psoriasis patch?

Yes. Psoriasis can sometimes appear in an area of injured skin.

Possible triggers include:

• Scratching
• Cuts
• Burns
• Tattoos
• Insect bites
• Surgical wounds
• Repeated friction
• Severe sunburn

Avoiding preventable skin injury and treating itching can help reduce this type of flare.

Is psoriasis the same as fungal infection?

No.

Psoriasis

• Chronic inflammatory condition
• Not contagious
• May affect scalp, nails and joints
• Often recurs in similar areas
• Requires anti-inflammatory or immune-directed treatment

Fungal infection

• Caused by fungi
• Can spread between people or body areas
• Often requires antifungal medicine
• May be confirmed through skin or nail testing

Both can cause scaling and itching. Using a steroid-containing mixed cream on an undiagnosed fungal infection can change its appearance and allow it to spread.

Is psoriasis the same as eczema?

No, although the conditions can occasionally look similar.

Eczema commonly produces intense itching, dryness and inflamed patches. Psoriasis more often produces sharply defined, thickened plaques with scale, but these textbook differences are not present in every patient.

Both conditions can affect:

• Scalp
• Face
• Hands
• Skin folds
• Children
• Adults

A dermatologist may occasionally recommend a skin biopsy when the diagnosis remains uncertain.

Correct diagnosis before long-term treatment

Psoriasis is distinguished from fungal infection, eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other scaly conditions.

Skin, scalp and nail assessment

The consultation looks beyond visible body plaques and checks areas that may require a different treatment plan.

Joint-symptom screening

Patients are asked about stiffness, swollen joints, heel pain and other signs that may suggest psoriatic arthritis.

Dermatologist-led management

Care is provided under Dr. Cheena Langer, MBBS, MD Dermatology, Consultant Dermatologist.

Treatment matched to severity

The plan may include moisturisers, topical medicine, monitoring, laboratory tests, systemic-treatment evaluation or referral for phototherapy or rheumatology care where appropriate.

Long-term, realistic counselling

Psoriasis is managed as a recurring inflammatory condition—not advertised as a one-time cure.

Additional cost depends on:

• Type and severity of psoriasis
• Prescription creams or scalp solutions
• Blood tests
• Skin biopsy when diagnosis is uncertain
• Systemic medicine
• Infection screening
• Phototherapy referral
• Rheumatology consultation
• Frequency of monitoring
• Follow-up after the included 10-day period

The treatment plan and expected monitoring costs are discussed after examination.