Psoriasis

Psoriasis nowadays can be treated with a quiver of new solutions, including biological therapies that bring a revolutionary approach as opposed to traditional medications. 

Biological treatments especially for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are taken by injection or IV infusion at a schedule of once per week to once per three months, and more than often, they result into a completely clean skin. The frequency of the treatments needed, means that almost all patients can now benefit. 
Dr Masouri has worked as a research fellow and academic researcher at the Dermatology Clinic of Andreas Syggros hospital in Athens for ten years and has participated in numerous clinical trials as sub-investigator in psoriasis projects. 

Dr Masouri has developed psoriasis treatment protocols from phase 2 to phase 4 and has participated in basic research as investigator to ascertain results reliability (genetic and pharmacogenetic patterns in psoriasis). She has diagnosed and managed the treatment of a great number of patients with mild, moderate and severe types of psoriasis. Due to her experience, she continues participating in new research projects regarding the effectiveness of new drugs for psoriasis. 

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious inflammatory skin condition that affects patients’ psychology due to the colour and extent of the scaly and raised skin plaques that are formed, before they flake off. In the majority of the cases, the plaques or scales are of a silverish-white colour on an erythematous base. Some psoriatic patients develop (psoriatic) arthritis too. 

The early or later diagnosis of psoriasis impacts the management of the therapy regarding treating both the inflammation and preventing additional health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, etc. 

Moreover, psoriasis is linked to increased risk developing cardiovascular diseases with this risk been even higher for patients of younger age with severe psoriasis cases. 

We do not know yet what exactly causes psoriasis, but we do not know from statistics that the condition affects the 2-3% of the general population. There are five different types of psoriasis (Guttate psoriasis, Pustular psoriasis, Plaque psoriasis, Inverse psoriasis, Erythrodermic psoriasis) with Plaque psoriasis been the most common type as it is diagnosed at the 80% of psoriasis cases. 

Psoriasis can affect any area on the body and head but the elbows, the knees, the scalp and the back are the areas affected in most of the diagnosed cases. What is also important to say about psoriasis, is that psoriatic arthritis (that appears in the 30% of the psoriasis cases) causes pain and the progressive degeneration of the joints and thus treatment must be sought sooner than later to manage the progression of the disorder and the progressive destruction of the protective cartilage inside the joints. 

Unfortunately, the early signs of the condition including psoriatic arthritis are not easy to detect but once the medical history is taken, our patients are informed of the signs they need to recognise and pay attention to. 

Timely diagnosis is key.