Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-driven disease that affects daily life, and it deserves treatment that takes both seriously.

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Psoriasis affects roughly 8 million Americans, and yet many sufferers spend years managing it inadequately, cycling through over-the-counter products that don't address the underlying immune dysfunction. The treatment landscape has changed substantially in recent years, with biologic therapies now producing clear or nearly clear skin for patients who previously had no adequate options. At Element Dermatology in Sartell, MN, our clinical team develops individualized management plans that match treatment to the disease's type, severity, and impact on your life.

About This Condition

What Is Psoriasis and How Does It Behave?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system sends faulty signals that accelerate the skin cell growth cycle. Normally, skin cells take about a month to mature and shed. In psoriasis, this cycle can compress to just three to four days, causing cells to accumulate on the surface faster than they can shed. The result is the raised, red, scaly plaques that most people associate with the condition.

Psoriasis is not contagious, not caused by poor hygiene, and not just a cosmetic issue. It's a systemic inflammatory disease with real implications beyond the skin. Psoriatic arthritis develops in up to 30% of patients with psoriasis, producing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness that can become debilitating if left unmanaged. Patients with psoriasis also have an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and depression. Managing the skin disease well also means managing the broader health picture.

Common types of psoriasis:

Plaque Psoriasis

The most common form, affecting around 80% of patients with psoriasis. Well-defined raised plaques covered with silvery-white scale, most often on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. Ranges from a few small patches to extensive body surface involvement.

Guttate Psoriasis

Small, drop-shaped lesions that appear suddenly, often following a streptococcal infection. More common in children and young adults. May resolve completely after the triggering infection clears, or may progress to plaque psoriasis over time. Often responds well to topical treatments and phototherapy.

Inverse Psoriasis

Affects skin folds (armpits, groin, under the breasts, around the genitals). They often appear as smooth, shiny, red patches without the usual scale, due to the friction and moisture in these areas that prevents scale buildup. They’re more prone to fungal infection. Requires specific treatment approaches suited to sensitive, occluded skin.

Scalp Psoriasis

Affects the scalp alone or alongside plaques elsewhere on the body. Ranges from fine scaling that resembles dandruff to thick, crusted plaques covering the entire scalp. It can extend onto the forehead, back of the neck, and around the ears. Requires formulations specifically designed to penetrate through hair-bearing skin.

The goal is clear, comfortable skin and a plan you can actually live with. Psoriasis management works best when the treatment approach fits your life, schedule, preferences, disease severity, and priorities. We'll build a plan that's realistic, effective, and adjustable as your disease changes over time.

Targeted Treatments

How We Treat Psoriasis

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Frequently Asked Questions About Psoriasis

Is psoriasis curable?

Not currently. Psoriasis is a chronic condition driven by genetic and immune factors that don't go away. What is achievable is sustained remission. Clear or near-clear skin, maintained with ongoing treatment, is now a realistic goal for many patients with moderate-to-severe disease, thanks to biologic therapies. For milder disease, well-managed topical treatment and trigger avoidance can keep symptoms minimal for extended periods. The goal of treatment is effective, long-term control rather than a one-time cure.

Will my insurance cover my psoriasis treatment?

Most insurance plans cover biologic therapy for psoriasis when medical-necessity criteria are met, which generally requires documentation of moderate-to-severe disease and prior use of conventional treatments. The prior authorization process can be time-consuming, but it’s a standard part of initiating biologic therapy. We manage this process on your behalf and work with pharmaceutical patient assistance programs when coverage gaps exist. We'll be upfront about the expected costs and timeline at your consultation.

Can psoriasis affect my joints?

Yes. Psoriatic arthritis affects up to 30% of patients with psoriasis and can develop at any point, sometimes before skin disease is apparent. It produces joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and in some cases, enthesitis (inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bone). If you're experiencing joint symptoms alongside your psoriasis, tell your provider at your appointment. Early treatment prevents the joint damage that accumulates with untreated disease, and some biologic therapies treat both the skin and joint components simultaneously.

Why does my psoriasis get worse in the winter?

Two factors make winter a time for flare-ups in psoriasis patients living in Central Minnesota. First, cold, dry air and indoor heating strip moisture from the skin and compromise the skin barrier, worsening scaling and itch. Second, reduced UV exposure in winter removes a natural anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, which is part of why phototherapy works. Managing winter flares involves ramping up moisturizing with a thick, fragrance-free emollient, protecting exposed skin outdoors, using a humidifier, and, in some cases, proactively stepping up prescription treatment in the fall before the worst of the season arrives.