Psoriasis

Dr. Rebecca Baxt, best board-certified dermatologist, can help you with a diagnosing, treating and managing your psoriasis in Paramus, (Bergen County), NJ.

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis​ is a long lasting, chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that affects approximately 7.5 million Americans. Psoriasis most commonly affects adults but can occur in all age groups. A common myth is that psoriasis is contagious. BAXT CosMedical® dermatologists advise all that psoriasis is ​NOT​ contagious.

Psoriasis is not usually physically painful, itchy or symptomatic, but the rash can have severe psychological consequences for men and women who have this condition. Psoriasis primarily affects the skin but can also affect the nails and joints causing psoriatic arthritis. Also, psoriasis can be an indication of internal inflammation with an increased risk of cardiac disease.

Psoriasis should be managed by a ​board-certified dermatologist​. At BAXT CosMedical®, Dr. Rebecca Baxt​ is available to help you diagnose, treat, control and manage your psoriasis.

What Causes Psoriasis and What Are The Symptoms Of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis develops when a person’s immune system does not work to control the growth of skin cells. People with psoriasis skin cells grow much too quickly with skin cells forming in days rather than the normal time of weeks. Unfortunately, the body cannot shed the excess skin cells resulting in the skin cells clumping together in thick layers that are covered with silvery-white scale, called plaque psoriasis. The medical terms for other types of psoriasis are Guttate psoriasis, Pustular psoriasis, Inverse psoriasis, and Erythrodermic psoriasis

Men and women affected with the various types of psoriasis typically exhibit the following symptoms:

• Skin rashes and dryness
• Skin flakiness, peel
• Small bumps on the skin
• Itching
• Skin thickness
• Redness
• Inflamed tendons
• Joint stiffness

The psoriasis rash can flare with diet, stress, and weather changes. ​As previously mentioned before, despite how psoriasis looks, it is ​NOT​ contagious.

Dr. Rebecca Baxt advises patients that the exact cause of psoriasis is not known. Dermatologists believe that is a genetic connection as people who get psoriasis usually
have family members who are affected, as well as an individual’s immune system.

How Long Does Psoriasis Last?

Unfortunately, psoriasis is usually a chronic disease. At this time there is no “cure” for psoriasis. Treating psoriasis reduces some symptoms which help patients to feel better about their appearance. BAXT CosMedical® Dermatologists recommend ongoing customized treatments as prescribed to reduce the symptoms and achieve some degree of cosmetic improvements.

How Is Psoriasis Treated?

At BAXT CosMedical®, our board-certified dermatologists use creams and sometimes injections or pills to treat the rash of psoriasis. We work with each patient to get a program that fits their lifestyle to keep their psoriasis under control. We also work with our patients’ outside doctors such as primary care or rheumatology, to get the best comprehensive approach to the disease of psoriasis which can affect other organs and is not just skin deep.