By Minerva Newman CEBU CITY – Over two million Filipinos and more than 250 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Psoriasis in 2017, a skin disease that can be triggered by environmental factors, and for which, doctors are still searching for a cure. (PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN) Dr. Hope Valerie Solano of the Philippine Dermatological Society-Cebu Chapter, in a media forum, said that Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease causing raised, red scaly patches of scars or wounds on the skin. “Psoriasis affects or mostly appears on the elbows, knees and scalps but they can also appear anywhere on your skin. They are characterized by severe itchiness, burns and sting sensations,” Solano said. Some patients develop dandruff psoriasis on the scalp. Solano added that psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid build up of skin cells. This causes scaling on the skin, inflammation and redness around those scales. Psoriasis though is not contagious, Solano said but they look scary on the person. “Most of my patients reported depression, deep embarrassment and stressed life,” the doctor said. Stress often triggers the skin to break out. Cold and dry weather can dry out the skin and may cause skin flare-up which to some patients are really the worse feeling, Solano explained. Solano said that although psoriasis is a long-term chronic skin disease with no cure yet, there are creams and essential oils that can help control the itchiness it causes. Psoriasis conditions are either mild, moderate or severe. “I usually advise my patients with Psoriasis to go to the beach and have some minor sun exposures, the skin somehow reacts positively to the sun, wind and relaxing mode at the beach. Over-exposure to the sun is not also advisable,” Solano said.