Brief Answer:
Psoriasis vulgaris...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to HCM..

I saw the photos you posted. You are right ...your father in law is having psoriasis vulgaris. It is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory autoimmune skin disease characterised by silvery scaly plaques on any part of the body. There may be mild to severe itching. Scalp may also be affected. Some time nails and joints are also involved. Disease is benign,but..the quality of life is disturbed. Patient might remain in stress,which again worsens the condition. Skin remains dry which exacerbates the disease. Dry weather,tension,sleeplessness..etc might exacerbate the psoriatic lesions.

As the disease is autoimmune skin disease like diabetes.. the first aim should be to control the disease process. Anxiety to cure the disease should be avoided. Other diseases like diabetes,hypertension or other should be find out and those should be treated along with the skin disease.

Let your father in law consult the dermatologist and have perfect treatment after thorough examination and investigations.

I would suggest ...

- tab methotrexate 15 mg per week.. in divided doses (5 mg twice a day on one day and 5 mg on subsequent day)

OR

- cap acitretin 25 mg daily

- apply moisturiser cream after bath like liquid paraffin cream
- apply keratolytic oint. like salicylic acid oint or urea containing oint. at night

- avoid dryness and keep the skin moist. Olive oil may be used during bath.

- if the scalp is involved, tar containing shampoo may used.

- to relieve itching, give him antihistaminic like levocetirizine 5 mg daily

All above treatment should be taken under dermatologist's supervision. Blood tests may be done at regular intervals. If any side effect occurs .. that should be taken care off.

If the disease is controlled and he feels better, the treatment should be revised or may be discontinued. And he should remember that the disease might relapse any time. If it relapses, treatment should be reconsidered again under supervision of dermatologist.

I hope above tips might help to manage psoriasis of your father in law.

Thanks..

Dr.Ilyas Patel MD

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Brief Answer:
Psoriasis vulgaris

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for accepting my answer.

If any query..you are welcome.

Dr.Ilyas Patel MD

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