Psoriasis Treatment in Dubai
Psoriasis is an immune condition in which skin cells are made far faster than normal, building up into thick, scaly, well-defined plaques, most often on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. It is not infectious and it is not caused by poor hygiene. At Smart Care Polyclinic in Deira, a specialist dermatologist grades it, checks the nails and joints, and starts treatment matched to its extent.
For: scaly plaques on skin, scalp or nails; joint pain with them
Takes: a 20-30 minute consultation
Price: consultation AED 125
What it is
Psoriasis is driven by the immune system, not by anything on the skin. Signals inside the skin tell cells to divide every few days instead of every few weeks, so they pile up as silvery scale on a red base. It tends to run in families, is set off or worsened by throat infections, stress, some medicines, alcohol and skin injury, and comes and goes over a lifetime.
Severity is graded by how much skin is involved and where. A few plaques on the elbows and a scalp that sheds scale onto the shoulders are managed differently, and psoriasis on the hands, face, genitals or nails counts as more severe than its area suggests because of the effect on daily life.
Topical treatment comes first for limited psoriasis. The joint American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation guideline sets out the topical options — corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, combinations, tar and others — together with how to assess severity, and the dermatologist's role in monitoring and explaining the benefits and risks of each.1 More extensive disease, or psoriasis with joint symptoms, is discussed for phototherapy or systemic treatment and referred where needed.
Psoriatic arthritis: the question the dermatologist always asks
Up to a third of people with psoriasis develop joint inflammation, often in the fingers, toes, heels or lower back, and it can start years after the skin. Stiff, swollen or painful joints, especially in the morning, are worth mentioning at the consultation even if they seem unrelated, because early treatment protects the joints.
Living with it
Moisturise generously, avoid picking scale, and treat flares early. Sunlight in moderation helps most people, which is one of the few advantages of a Dubai summer, but sunburn triggers new plaques. Alcohol and smoking both worsen psoriasis. Tell the dermatologist about every medicine you take: several common ones, including some for blood pressure and malaria, can trigger it.
The consultation, and what follows from it
Dermatology consultation
Assessment, examination and a plan with every cost stated before anything further is done.
AED 125
Book
Questions patients ask
No. It is an immune condition and cannot be passed to anyone by touch, swimming or sharing towels.
Not cured, but controlled, often to the point where the skin is clear. Treatment is chosen for the extent and site, and adjusted over time as psoriasis changes.
Scalp psoriasis needs preparations that reach through hair, such as medicated shampoos, foams and solutions rather than creams. It is a common reason for persistent dandruff that does not respond to ordinary shampoo, and the dermatologist can distinguish the two.
This guide is general information about a condition, not a diagnosis. Skin conditions overlap, and what looks like one thing is often another; the dermatologist's examination is what decides your treatment.
References
- Elmets CA, Korman NJ, Prater EF, et al.. Joint AAD-NPF Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapy and alternative medicine modalities for psoriasis severity measures. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2021;84(2):432-470. PMID 32738429. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.087The joint AAD-NPF guideline on topical treatment of psoriasis, the assessment of severity, and the dermatologist's role in monitoring and explaining benefits and risks.
Sources are listed for the specific statements they support. They are published research and guidance, not a substitute for a consultation — what applies to you is decided by a doctor who has assessed you.