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Why you should get the right treatment for psoriasis ASAP

MyPR: Why you should get the right treatment for psoriasis ASAP:

Early signs of psoriasis Photo: Gullan and Gullan

Psoriasis, a disease that many doctors and patients once thought to be a simple skin disease, has been researched and found to be more than skin deep.1 In fact, the disease is so severe that it impacts the mental and physical wellbeing of a patient, at times leading to suicide.2 Some of the symptoms prevent people from doing normal things such as wearing clothes that show their skin and carrying their kids.

Early signs of psoriasis
Before you can treat psoriasis, it’s important to recognise the signs. Here are five early symptoms,3

1. Rashes or patches of red, inflamed skin, covered in loose silvery plaques. In severe instances, the plaques grow and merge into each other and cover larger areas of the body.
2. Itchy, painful skin that may crack and bleed when scratched.
3. Pitting or discolouring of the fingernails and toenails. The nails may begin to crumble or detach from the nailbed.
4. Scaly plaques of silvery skin on the scalp.
5. Achy or swollen joints may occur as a result of psoriatic arthritis, which is a related condition that affects psoriasis sufferers.

“There is help out there, and you can change the course of the disease,” said Dr Ugeshnie Naidoo, a renowned specialist dermatologist based in Pretoria. “The sooner you treat psoriasis, and the more effectively you treat it, means you can prevent long-term problems and comorbidities.”

Psoriasis complications
If left untreated, psoriasis could flare up and result in further health complications such as,4

Psoriatic arthritis4
One of the more common comorbidities, affecting 30 to 33% of people living with psoriasis, is psoriatic arthritis. This causes swelling, pain and stiffness in the joints when left untreated.

Cardiovascular diseases4
Also known as heart disease, this progression of psoriasis may result in heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and heart valve problems.

Metabolic syndrome4
Due to increased blood pressure caused by psoriasis, people may experience excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol levels, both of which could lead to strokes or type 2 diabetes.

Mental health disorders4
Due to the debilitating nature of psoriasis symptoms, many people experience mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and, in severe cases, suicidal ideation.2 The impact of mental health disorders could result in constant sadness, impacting a person’s ability to live a happy, normal life.

How to treat psoriasis
Seek immediate assistance from your doctor, who will be able to assess the severity of your psoriasis and place you on a treatment plan. After years of research, pharmaceutical companies have developed a biologic treatment that reduces the severity of symptoms and can achieve clear skin.

“With the introduction of a breakthrough biologic treatment, you can change the course of your life, and enjoy clear skin”, added Dr Naidoo.

People living with this devastating condition deserve access to effective treatment. If you’re living with psoriasis, talk to your dermatologist ASAP and ask them to help you get treatment that will achieve clear skin.

Psoriasis is a lifelong condition, but it can be managed. Visit the #MoreThanSkinDeep Facebook page to learn more about psoriasis and how you can show your support to those living with this condition.

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Have you tried: Visiting Port Elizabeth?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? The Johannesburg Zoo based in Parktown, is over 100 years old, and houses the only two polar bears in Africa – Geebee (who came from Canada) and Wang (who came from Japan).

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Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.