The psoriasis relief you need, now online

Question 1

What is psoriasis?

Answer

Psoriasis is a skin condition that typically causes itchy or sore patches of red, scaly skin on the elbows, scalp, knees or back—though it can affect other areas. Additional symptoms can include dry or cracked skin, joint pain or cracked, pitted nails. Psoriasis is a chronic issue that often appears in cycles, worsening for a few weeks or months before subsiding. There’s no cure, but the right treatment can help improve symptoms even in severe cases.

Question 2

What causes psoriasis?

Answer

The exact cause of psoriasis—an autoimmune condition—remains largely unknown. An issue with the body’s immune response is thought to lead to inflammation, which causes new skin cells to replicate too quickly—roughly every 3-4 days, instead of 10-30. Psoriasis often runs in families, so there may be a genetic component.

Question 3

What are the triggers for psoriasis?

Answer

Psoriasis outbreaks can occur for any reason, but some common triggers include:

High stress levels
Any infections, including bacterial or viral
Smoking or being around secondhand smoke
Cold, dry weather
Alcohol consumption
Taking medications like high blood pressure drugs or Lithium

Question 4

What are the types of psoriasis?

Answer

Types of psoriasis include:

Plaque psoriasis: Plaque is the most common form, affecting 80-90% percent of those with psoriasis. The main symptom is itchy, raised red patches, called plaques, on the skin, usually located on the elbows, knees, scalp or back.
Guttate psoriasis: Most commonly affecting young adults and children, guttate psoriasis is typically brought on by a bacterial infection and appears as small, drop-shaped spots on the arms, legs or torso.
Inverse psoriasis: Inverse psoriasis occurs in the skin folds, usually of the breasts, groin or buttocks. It’s characterized by inflamed patches of skin that don’t have plaques and can be exacerbated by sweating and friction.
Sebopsoriasis: A combination of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, sebopsoriasis usually affects the scalp and face as greasy, yellowish plaques.

Question 5

Is psoriasis contagious?

Answer

Psoriasis isn’t contagious.You can’t contract it by touching or coming into contact with another person’s skin rashes.

Question 6

How can you improve psoriasis symptoms?

Answer

In addition to the right prescription treatment, you may improve your symptoms by:

Applying moisturizer to skin daily
Taking regular baths
Avoiding scratching
Exposing skin to a moderate amount of sunlight (too much can be damaging)
Not smoking
Limiting alcohol consumption
Eating a well-balanced diet
Exercising regularly

Question 7

What are the prescription treatments available for psoriasis?

Answer

There are a range of topical psoriasis medications available as creams, lotions and ointments. There are also prescription shampoos to treat psoriasis on the scalp. While the treatments belong to different medication classes—corticosteroids, aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists, phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors and vitamin D analogs—all help to restrict the growth of excess skin cells, reduce inflammation and improve symptoms. Dr. B offers the medications Triderm (Triamcinolone), Vtama (Ttapinarof), Zoryve (Roflumilast) and Dovonex (Calcipotriene).

Question 8

How is psoriasis treatment applied?

Answer

Psoriasis treatments are applied topically— as a lotion, cream, ointment or scalp solution. Be sure to follow your medical provider’s instructions carefully.

Question 9

What are common psoriasis treatment side effects?

Answer

Side effects vary by treatment, but some common ones include:

Burning or itching of the skin
Skin flaking
Body aches
Headaches

These symptoms are typically mild and diminish over time. Talk to your medical provider if symptoms don’t improve or get worse.

Question 10

How much does psoriasis treatment cost?

Answer

Consultation: A virtual medical consultation for psoriasis costs $15.00, which is lower than most doctor co-pays. Currently we don’t submit medical consultation claims to insurance companies, but you can use insurance for any resulting prescriptions at your pharmacy.

Medication: Dr. B only charges for the medical consultation. When medications are prescribed, we enable you to choose the most affordable or convenient pharmacy to get the prescription filled. Prices for your medication will vary depending on your insurance coverage and whether the drug is a brand or generic.

Question 11

Do you accept insurance?

Answer

At this time we don’t submit medical consultation claims to insurance companies, but you can use insurance for any resulting prescriptions at your pharmacy.

Question 12

How do refills work?

Answer

We’ll send you a reminder for an online assessment when it’s time for your next refill.