How to Choose the Right Psoriasis Doctor

If you have been led to this site by googling the keywords "psoriasis doctors Philippines," then I hope that this article will be of help in your search for the right healthcare professional. Keep in mind that having psoriasis only means that your relationship with your psoriasis doctor is a long-term one. Hence, you would want to work with the right doctor in treating and/or managing your psoriasis.

The Doctor's Field of Specialization
Since psoriasis affects the skin, the first thing that should come to mind is a doctor specializing in skin disorders and their treatments, called a dermatologist. If you don't know any dermatologist in your area, then the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) website is a good starting point.

Look for the words Find A Derm on the upper right corner of the PDS website's main page, then click it. You will be brought to the Doctor Locator page. There's a box which allows you to search a dermatologist using a map, or search by name, province, region, city/municipality and address. Regardless of the method you use in searching for a dermatologist in your area, the names, clinic location, and telephone numbers of the members of the PDS will appear on your monitor.

The Doctor's Background and Training
Not all dermatologists are alike, however. While you may be familiar, or want to consult, with the dermatologists whom you always see on television because they are the doctors of your favorite celebrity, they may not be trained for psoriasis treatment. Their training may be more in cosmetic dermatology.

Your best bet would be a doctor whose practice focuses on medical dermatology or immunodermatology. In order not to waste your time in going to the doctor, you may want to call the dermatologists first and inquire whether they are experienced in treating psoriasis. If you know any persons with psoriasis, then you can ask recommendations from them. You may also want to contact Psoriasis Philippines, or ask any of its members, for any dermatologists that they can recommend to you.

If you really want a doctor who thoroughly understands the disease, then a dermatologist who has a fellowship or membership with the National Psoriasis Foundation can be one of the requirements in your choice. These doctors have undergone special and/or extensive training in psoriasis treatment in the United States.

Sympathetic or Empathetic Doctors?
While you want a highly-trained doctor in treating your psoriasis, you would also want a doctor who treats you as a human being. Psoriasis highly affects our self-esteem and self-confidence, and you would only want a doctor who not only sympathizes but also empathizes with you.

You don't need more sympathy, that is, you don't want your doctor to share your suffering. He or she may not be able to help you that way. What you need from your doctor is a humane understanding of what you're going through. Theodore Lipps, the 19th century German psychologist, called it "einfuhlung" (which directly translates into "in-feeling"), which means that a health care professional should thoroughly understand your inner feelings and experiences as a patient and must be able to express that understanding to you.

Studies have shown that doctors who are empathetic are able to strengthen the relationship of trust with their patients. You may later find that this empathetic communication between you and the doctor makes it easier for you to accept the reality of your chronic condition. With acceptance comes the quiet resolve to do something about it. Then, it becomes easier to follow the prescribed treatment program and to proactively manage your psoriasis.

If the first doctor you visit does not have this vital attribute of empathy, try looking around. There must be someone out there: Filipino doctors are much sought after in other countries, not least because they are able to establish empathy with their patients.

Photo credit: caroline_1 (flickr.com)

Will My Heart Go On Even If I Have Psoriasis?

The title of this entry must have made you think about the worldwide hit song of Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie Titanic. This post is neither about the movie nor the song. It has something to do with the link between psoriasis and heart disease. Is that news to you?

A number of studies in the last decade have already shown that psoriasis patients are also found to have or to develop cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure or hypertension, high blood cholesterol level, heart failure, atherosclerosis and diastolic dysfunction. One of the theories postulated is that heart disease like atherosclerosis and psoriasis are both inflammatory conditions. The degree of inflammation in skins with psoriasis can be on a titanic scale, as in severe cases which cover the whole body of the patient.

In a 2005 study at Karolinska Institute in Sweden, it was shown that the risk of dying of heart disease for people in the 40-59 age group is 91 percent higher for those with severe psoriasis. For people over 60 with severe psoriasis, the risk is 37 percent greater. Those with mild to moderate psoriasis cases like me should not be complacent because the chance of developing any of the cardiovascular diseases is still there.

Researchers recommend that psoriasis patients must adopt a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet. The probability of developing cardiovascular disease is substantially minimized when a psoriasis patient practices healthy living.

On the personal note, I remember in early to middle 2008 when I noticed that something was no longer right with my body although my psoriasis at the time was still manageable. During the first half of that year, I put on an additional 20 pounds to my weight at end-2007. I thought that maybe the reason for my weight gain was due to hypothyroidism which can also be seen in some psoriasis patients. And so I went to see a doctor specializing in internal medicine.

After undergoing a series of blood testing, it was found out that I only had the so-called subclinical hypothyroidism. There were other conditions that were diagnosed, however. These were cardiovascular-related diseases — high blood pressure (which soared as high as 140/100 at some point) and also high blood cholesterol level. I vowed to correct these risk factors — and finally got rid of them in a matter of 90 days after the diagnosis. I was also able to shed 40 pounds. From that time up to now, I have maintained my ideal weight. I still want my heart to go on and function well despite my psoriasis.

Photo credit: Mykl Roventine(flickr.com)

Going for a Night Out? Try Covering and Lightening Up Methods

Are you going out for a date? Or, are you invited to attend a party but don't know how to hide those irritating plaques and lesions? Instead of staying at home and licking your wounds for the constraints that our condition has brought us, you might find the following tips helpful in mitigating embarrassment.

Cosmetic Cover-Up
Experts recommend, with caveats, the use of cosmetic products such as masking cream or concealer as cover-up on the face and other affected areas. Not all cosmetic products, however, are helpful for camouflaging the redness of the skin. It does seem that the unsightly redness can be neutralized by creams containing green dye. You may want to ask your dermatologist for recommendations as to the best product that is suitable in your case.

Keep in mind that there are limits in using these cosmetic products. If you have open sores or you develop skin irritation, then you should never use them, or stop using them at once. Some psoriasis sufferers will not benefit from camouflage techniques, however. Severe cases where patches of skin are thick or scaly will not respond adequately to cover-ups. But well-controlled conditions where there are only brownish or slightly reddish spots can be helped quite satisfactorily.

Light Colors and Fabrics
One of the things that embarrasses us the most is when we find out that other people see flakes falling from our hair and sticking onto our tops. Ew… Thus, it is only practical for us to wear light-colored and light-patterned tops. Fabrics, such as silk and cotton, which provide more comfort when we wear them are better than wool, as the fashion guru Tim Gunn of Project Runway recommends. Linens, according to him, may not work as well because the surface texture is rather stubbly, making it slightly uneven and rough.

If cosmetic camouflage does not work, then tell the people who ask about the redness on your skin that you have psoriasis which affects at least one-percent of the Philippine population and up to three-percent of the world population. It is not merely a skin disease, but rather it is an auto-immune condition which runs in families. Assure them it is never contagious. And finally, tell them that they should thank their stars they do not suffer the condition.

Photo credit: Kaunokainen (flickr.com)