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Psoriasis Awareness Action Month – August

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Categories: Medical negligence, News
Date published: 20/08/2021

This month gives us all an opportunity to learn more about this condition and to help those suffering from it.  According to the www.nhs.uk this “is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales”.  Though, not life-threatening it can leave the suffer perplexed and disheartened if the condition persists and they cannot get the right kind of medical treatment.

To help raise awareness we need to look at the causes of this condition, the treatment and management options so patients can access the help they need.

According to the charity https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk the cause of this condition is largely unknown but there is a school of thought that this is affected by the immune system and genetics.

This can affect men and women of all ages and all races and often sufferers will not seek immediate medical help.  The good news is that there are many ways to manage and control the condition.  Sadly, this is a common enough condition but often the condition is not recognised or the impact on the sufferer is not appreciated due it not being understood.  Also, lack awareness can lead to the condition being not being treated or under-treated.

This condition generally affects those with a problem with the immune system. It happens when skin cells are replaced more quickly than usual.  It can also run in the family which means most likely to be caused due to a combination of genes which may make people more susceptible to the condition.

The trigger factors can be many such as:

  • smoking
  • stress
  • excessive alcohol
  • trauma to the skin or even sunburn
  • hormonal changes
  • reaction to certain medications
  • throat infections
  • immune disorders

Treatment options would first require treatment and consultation with the GP. If appropriate a referral to a skin specialist, this being a dermatologist.

Treatment can vary dependent on the severity and location of the condition. This can range from topical creams to medication include steroid based medication.   Another form of treatment could be phototherapy where the skin is exposed to certain types of ultraviolet light.

Sadly, though for some it may appear to be a minor skin irritation for a long term sufferer this can impact on their mental well-being.

To support and help raise awareness, one can make a contribution to the much needed research or raise funds to help more support for the sufferers of this condition.

For more helpful information and support can be found from www.nhs.uk and https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk

If you or a loved one have suffered through Clinical Negligence and want to speak to a lawyer in your language, our friendly Medical Negligence team consist of people who do speak Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian and Russian as well as English. When you contact us just ask to speak to someone who speaks your language and we will be happy to be of help.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.

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