Think you may have psoriasis? Visit your primary VA health care provider for diagnosis and treatment options

Are you one of the thousands of Veterans that have psoriasis? If so, you’re probably familiar with the symptoms of the itchy disease.

While most people think of psoriasis as just a “skin condition,” it actually starts underneath the skin, and is technically an immune system disease with conditions ranging from mild to severe. There is no cure for psoriasis, but many treatment options are available, according to National Institutes of Health. Treatment is different from person to person depending on the severity of the disease, the type of psoriasis and how the person reacts to certain treatments.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Houston is one of the many places Veterans can be treated for psoriasis. The hospital recently opened a new and spacious, state-of-the-art dermatology clinic on the second floor of the medical center that offers expanded services to Veterans seeking care for conditions like eczema and psoriasis.  The DeBakey Medical Center serves as the primary health care provider for almost 130,000 veterans in southeast Texas.

For those Veterans living outside of the Houston area, ask your VA health care provider for more information on psoriasis and treatment options suitable for you as psoriasis may be associated with other health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

August is National Psoriasis Awareness Month. Visit the National Institutes of Health to learn more about the disease.