What Is Psoriasis, And How Can A Hamilton Compounding Pharmacy Help With It?

As a Hamilton compounding pharmacy, we want to tell you: People with Psoriasis know that itching and patches on the skin are only one part of the equation. The other part involves the constant inflammation, the burning, and more. Also, Psoriasis creates scaly patches on the skin, and that could be embarrassing.

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. Even to this day, nobody knows the exact cause of Psoriasis or why the immune system dysfunctions. As the immune system overacts, it speeds up the growth of skin cells. Typically, skin cells grow and shed over a month, but when the person has Psoriasis, this process could speed up to even three or four days. Also, instead of old cells shedding, they all accumulate on the surface of the skin. These patches of skin could itch, burn, or even sting. There is no given area where the psoriasis patches can occur, but mostly they have been known to appear on the elbows, knees, and scalp.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Like we mentioned earlier, the exact cause of inflammation is still unknown, but scientists and doctors have found several reasons why these patients see a flare-up. Genetics plays a significant role in the occurrence of Psoriasis. There is no difference between men and women, but studies have reported that it is more common in Caucasians than in any other race.

How to Treat Psoriasis in Hamilton?

Once you see scaly skin or angry red patches on your skin, go straight to a dermatologist. They might recommend several treatments depending on your condition. These treatments might include OTC topical treatments like moisturizers and topical steroids, as well as prescription corticosteroids. When the dermatologist recommends the treatment, you could approach a Hamilton compounding pharmacy to compound corticosteroids that can better treat the condition. Currently, prescription-strength corticosteroids are the most potent and effective treatment for Psoriasis. The only problem is that they need the correct potency. Your dermatologist might even recommend different potencies for different areas of the body. For example, they could recommend one potency for your elbows, another for your face, and a completely different one for your torso and extremities. If you have a flare-up on your neck, you might have to add sunscreen to your treatment.

Why Varying Potencies?

Corticosteroids are highly potent medications. That is why dermatologists prescribe them in different potencies depending on the target area and your skin condition. Common side effects of corticosteroids are:

• cutaneous atrophy (thinning of the skin)
• tachyphylaxis (decreased effectiveness over time)

This is why doctors keep changing the doses and the frequency of your treatment. If you go to a compounding pharmacy for your dermatological compounds, your medications will be according to your unique needs, and you might not need to change the dosage so much. They can also add various other ingredients based on your prescription and your needs. For example, a form of Vitamin D is known to slow down the rapid growth of skin cells and could be used in combination with steroids.

Final Word

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that could really bring down your quality of life. You don’t want to be at a party and keep scratching away at yourself. Also, if the patches are visible, it could get embarrassing. Contact us if you want to know more about dermatological compounding in Hamilton and what we can do for you.