Psoriasis Treatment in Ann Arbor, Plymouth & Wixom
Psoriasis, whether mild, moderate, or severe, is a challenging condition that affects millions. For the nearly 7.5 million people in the US living with it, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, psoriasis brings frequent discomfort, pain, and self-consciousness. Flare-ups can disrupt daily routines and even the most important moments in life. At Ganger Dermatology, we can help you identify your triggers, provide effective treatment, and get you back to living your life—feeling confident and comfortable in your skin.
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that shows up on the skin, which is why it often does not respond to the things people try first. Treatment has changed a great deal: for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, we can now prescribe treatments that target the specific immune signaling that drives it.
Psoriasis Education & Treatment Options
Psoriasis’ characteristic dry, scaly, red patches (known as plaques) can affect anyone at any age, though, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, it most often first appears between the ages of 20 and 30, and most people develop it before 40. These patches can itch, crack, and bleed, becoming not just inconvenient but painful over time. While psoriasis is a chronic condition with no known cure, a dermatologist can help you understand your skin and how to properly care for it. We offer a range of prescription medications and topicals to combat psoriasis, as well as biologics for more severe cases. Most importantly, we will work with you to identify your triggers, recommend safe products, and develop a lifestyle and skincare plan to keep you flare-up free for as long as possible.
In psoriasis, the immune system prompts skin cells to be produced far faster than they can be shed, and they pile up at the surface as plaques. The AAD notes that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can be associated with other conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression, so we treat psoriasis as a whole-body condition and ask about your general health as well as your skin.
Benefits of Psoriasis Treatment
- Fewer flare-ups
- Shorter flare-ups
- Relief from dryness and itching
- Reduce inflammation in the body
- Improved confidence
- Less skin flaking
- A plan built around you
The types of psoriasis
The most common form. Well-defined raised patches with silvery-white scale, typically on the outsides of the elbows and knees, the lower back, and the scalp.
Small, drop-shaped spots appearing suddenly across the trunk and limbs. Often follows an infection, classically strep throat, and is more common in children and younger adults.
Smooth, shiny, red areas in skin folds: the armpits, under the bust, the groin. Because it lacks the typical scale, it is frequently mistaken for a fungal infection or a rash from rubbing.
Thick scale along the hairline, behind the ears, and across the scalp. Often treated as severe dandruff for years.
Pitting, thickening, crumbling, discoloration, or separation of the nail from its bed. Easy to mistake for nail fungus, and worth identifying because nail involvement is associated with joint involvement.
Uncommon forms. Erythrodermic psoriasis, which affects most of the body surface, is a medical emergency and needs immediate care, not an appointment in a few weeks.
Psoriasis and your joints
Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, a form of inflammatory joint disease. It can affect any joint, and also the places where tendons attach to bone, causing heel or elbow pain that does not seem related to a skin condition at all. Joint damage from inflammatory arthritis can’t be undone, so we will ask you about your joints.
Mention it to us if you have
- Joint pain, swelling, or stiffness — particularly stiffness that is worse in the morning and eases with movement
- A swollen finger or toe that looks puffy along its whole length
- Persistent heel, foot, or lower back pain
- Nail changes such as pitting or separation
Does psoriasis go away?
No. Psoriasis is a chronic condition, and it has no known cure. What treatment can do has changed substantially: for many people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, modern treatment can clear much of the skin and keep it under control for long stretches. Stopping treatment generally means the disease returns, so we plan your treatment with you for the long term.
How we treat psoriasis at Ganger Dermatology
We prescribe creams, foams and solutions, medication by mouth, and biologics for more severe cases. Just as important, we work with you to identify your triggers, recommend suitable products, and build a skincare plan around how psoriasis affects you.
Prescription creams and foams
Non-steroid options such as roflumilast (Zoryve) and tapinarof (Vtama), calcipotriene, and strong topical steroids, including solutions made for the scalp. Used on their own for limited psoriasis and alongside other treatment for more extensive psoriasis.
Medication by mouth
Apremilast (Otezla), a daily tablet that calms the inflammation behind psoriasis, for some people who need more than topical treatment.
Biologics
For moderate-to-severe psoriasis, we prescribe biologics such as Tremfya and Skyrizi, injections that target the specific signaling that drives psoriasis, not the immune system as a whole.
Trigger and joint review
Including the joint questions above, and the general health factors that influence psoriasis severity.
We match treatment to how much skin is involved, where it is, how it affects your life, and your wider health. Individual results vary, and we adjust your plan over time.
Psoriasis FAQs
Researchers don’t yet know what causes a person to develop psoriasis, though we do know that the disease is a visual sign of inflammation occurring throughout the body. We also know that individual flare-ups can be triggered by certain environmental and genetic factors, such as changes of weather (especially cold weather); your immune system (flare-ups are common after illnesses like bronchitis or strep throat); injuries to your skin, such as cuts and scrapes or sunburns; diet; and exposure to allergens. Your dermatologist will help you understand your skin and how to care for it to reduce the severity and frequency of flare-ups.
Psoriasis can’t spread from person to person, but it can spread from one area of your body to another. It is not a contagious disease, but left untreated, it can progressively get worse. When you visit a dermatologist at Ganger Dermatology, we’ll provide the effective psoriasis treatments and knowledge you need to keep the condition in check.
Psoriasis and eczema really only have one thing in common: the presence of dry, itchy, and irritated patches of skin on the body. But these patches differ in important ways. Psoriasis plaques tend to be more well-defined, and they’re raised and thick with white scaly skin on top. Eczema is not as well-defined, with finer flakes that may ooze or swell. People with eczema often report intense itching, while people with psoriasis more often experience burning or stinging, though itching is possible. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms or another irritation of your skin, visit Ganger Dermatology for an accurate diagnosis. We know how to identify and treat these two unique skin conditions with targeted and personalized care plans.
Biologics are injectable medications for moderate-to-severe psoriasis; Tremfya and Skyrizi are names patients often recognize. They target the specific immune signaling that drives the disease, not the immune system as a whole. We prescribe and monitor them, and whether you are a candidate depends on how much skin is involved, where it is, how it affects your life, what has already been tried, and your wider health.
An examination is the reliable way to know, because several conditions look like it, among them eczema, a fungal infection and dandruff that never clears. Psoriasis can also look different on different skin tones, so a photo online is a poor guide. At the visit we look at the patches themselves, where they are, and your nails, and we ask about your joints. If you are not sure what a patch is, book a visit; we see psoriasis in Ann Arbor, Plymouth and Wixom.
Left untreated, psoriasis can progressively get worse and spread to new areas of your skin. Psoriasis can also affect more than the skin. Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, and joint damage from it cannot be undone, which is why we ask about your joints. The American Academy of Dermatology also notes that psoriasis can be associated with other conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression. If your psoriasis has never been treated, or has stopped responding, book a visit and we will look at your skin, your joints and your general health together.
Reliable Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis can create significant challenges in daily life, and if left untreated, it may lead to further complications that hinder you from fully enjoying life. Managing your skin requires more than simply guessing which drugstore products will work. If you have psoriasis, you need a trusted partner in your skin health who will be with you every step of the way. At Ganger Dermatology, serving the Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Wixom, MI communities, our team of compassionate experts is dedicated to helping you manage and alleviate the painful symptoms of psoriasis. Together, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique medical history. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward healthier, more comfortable skin.
Come see us if:
- You have thick, scaly, well-defined patches that have not responded to over-the-counter treatment
- You have been treating stubborn dandruff for months without progress
- Your nails are pitting, thickening, crumbling, or lifting
- Patches are painful, cracking, or bleeding
- You have psoriasis and new joint pain, swelling, or stiffness
- You would like to know whether you are a candidate for biologic treatment
Seek immediate care if psoriasis suddenly covers most of your body, or comes with fever or feeling generally unwell.
We see patients at our Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Wixom offices, or call us at (734) 344-4567.
