Ángeles Cruz Martínez
La Jornada Newspaper
Tuesday, November 18, 2025, p. 18
Red plaques on the skin and constant falling scales very similar to dandruff are the visible symptoms of psoriasis. The disease appears in individuals with a genetic predisposition that is triggered by factors such as overweight, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and carbohydrate intolerance. In Mexico, the disease affects around 2.5 million people, said Elena Vidaurri, a dermatological surgeon at the Eduardo Liceaga General Hospital of Mexico (HGMEL).
He explained that it is a common inflammatory disease, but not contagious. It occurs on the elbows, knees, and lumbar region, although sometimes it is on the entire extension of the skin at the same time.
Some cases of psoriasis are caused by medications and recurrent infections by streptococcus bacteria in the tonsils, which interact with the individual’s genetic predisposition.
In an interview, Vidaurri, a pediatric dermatologist and oncology specialist, explained that psoriasis usually occurs around the age of 30, although the symptoms can also arise from babies and during childhood, associated with pharyngeal infections.
He highlighted that the biggest challenge is the early identification of the condition and access to treatments, especially biological ones, which can achieve total control of the condition, depending on the size of the affected area.
Treatments are important, but also for patients to achieve a healthy body weight and keep illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure under control, eat a balanced diet, avoid long fasts and engage in physical activity. Likewise, it is necessary that they take measures to reduce stress and have a normal sleep cycle, he indicated.
Sometimes, with just these control measures, the disease disappears without the need for pharmacological treatments.
Vidaurri explained that psoriasis is an inflammatory condition and when skin lesions occur, the blood vessels dilate (increase their thickness), tissue renewal is accelerated and, therefore, the overproduction of scales.
As an example, the expert pointed out that if individuals without psoriasis get a blister, the first layer of the skin (epidermis) is lifted, which takes three to four weeks to renew. That’s normal. In psoriasis the process lasts five to six days and that is why the scales accumulate.
He stressed that the main factor that triggers psoriasis is genetic predisposition, because although in Mexico there is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, not everyone has the skin condition.
A complex of genes that make up the skin, known as sors 1 on chromosome 6, is involved.
Regarding the available medications, the specialist said that they have existed for around 40 years and all are available in the public sector, including the latest generation, which are monoclonal antibodies with the capacity to completely eliminate lesions and for a long time.
He stressed that psoriasis is uncomfortable for patients. Without treatment, it affects your quality of life, especially when the red plaques are in visible areas and due to the constant presence of scales. It is often the cause of discrimination, which has no reason, since psoriasis is not contagious nor is it due to lack of hygiene, he said.
