Psoriasis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, a doctor on Maple will be happy to talk to you about your condition.
The doctor may suggest that you visit a dermatologist, or have a biopsy performed on the affected areas before offering a psoriasis diagnosis.
After you've received a definitive psoriasis diagnosis, a doctor from Maple will be able to offer psoriasis treatment suggestions, including psoriasis prescriptions.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe psoriasis medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Psoriasis is a common, long-term skin disorder brought on by the immune system attacking healthy skin cells, making it an autoimmune disease. The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood, but genetics, the immune system, and environmental factors all play a role.

Though it can affect people of all ages, it often appears in early adulthood.

There are several types of psoriasis that each affect different areas of the body, as well as their own unique appearances and symptoms. The types of psoriasis include:

• Plaque psoriasis - the most common form of psoriasis
• Guttate psoriasis
• Pustular psoriasis
  • Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP)
  • Acropustulosis
  • Von Zumbusch (also called Generalized)
• Erythrodermic psoriasis
• Nail psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Inverse psoriasis, also called flexural psoriasis

The most commonly seen psoriasis symptoms across most forms include:

• Red or dry patches of skin, usually covered in silvery scales and sometimes with raised edges
• Itchy, painful skin
• Rashes on the genitals, scalp, or skin folds
• Joint stiffness or swelling
• Joint pain
  Nail abnormalities, such as pitting, crumbling, thickening, or discoloration

Moreover, some forms of psoriasis have some additional signs and symptoms that are unique to them.

Nail psoriasis signs and symptoms:

• Crumbling nails
• Nail disconnecting from the finger
• Discoloration of the nail

Guttate psoriasis signs and symptoms:

• Small red or scaly teardrop-shaped spots
• Usually affects children and young adults
• Tends to affect the trunk, legs, or arms

Inverse psoriasis signs and symptoms:

• Smooth patches of red, irritated skin that worsen with sweating or friction
• Sexual problems due to discomfort
• Mainly affects the buttocks, groin, armpits, or breasts
• Sometimes mistaken for fungal or bacterial infections due to their similar appearance

Pustular psoriasis signs and symptoms:

• Pus-filled lesions
• Can affect large areas, or be contained to the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, fingers, and toes
• Bone damage (rarely and only with Acropustulosis)
• Fever, chills, muscle weakness, headache, weight loss, nausea, dehydration, racing heartbeat (rarely and only with Von Zumbusch)

Erythrodermic psoriasis signs and symptoms:

• This is the rarest form of psoriasis. Although it doesn't have unique symptoms, this form can cover the entire body in irritated, peeling skin and can burn or itch severely.

Psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms:

• Progressive joint damage that can lead to permanent damage in severe cases
• It's possible to have this form of psoriasis with no symptoms other than joint pain and stiffness

Because psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, its main cause is genetics. However, some factors can increase the risks of experiencing psoriasis, such as:

• Obesity
• Infections - viral or bacterial
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Certain medications
• Vitamin D deficiencies (observed in patients with psoriasis)
• Injury to skin or skin irritation
• Tobacco use or exposure to secondhand smoke
• Cold, dry weather
• Rapid withdrawal from systemic or oral corticosteroids

In addition to these, some forms of psoriasis have triggers that are unique to them, including:
Guttate psoriasis causes:

• Bacterial infections (strep throat)

Pustular psoriasis causes:

• Too much time in the sun
• Pregnancy (this condition is more common in pregnant women)

Erythrodermic psoriasis causes:

• As an allergic reaction to medications
• Severe sunburn
• Although evidence is conflicting, it’s believed that severe or chronic stress could also be an associated risk factor for experiencing psoriasis.

A doctor may be able to offer a psoriasis diagnosis by examining the affected areas and asking you some questions about your condition.

In many cases, the doctor may refer you to a dermatologist for further evaluation. Because some types of psoriasis can resemble eczema or other skin conditions, the doctor or dermatologist may recommend a biopsy of the affected skin be taken to confirm the condition or type of psoriasis.

If you're showing symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, the doctor may also suggest having blood tests or X-rays performed to rule out other forms of arthritis.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can significantly impact your quality of life. It’s important to seek treatments for both the physical and psychological aspects of this disease.

At this time, there’s no cure for psoriasis. Therefore, psoriasis treatments should focus on controlling the disease and its symptoms. The treatments chosen will depend on the severity of your condition, as well as its location.

Mild forms of psoriasis involve treatments using topical medications. Some of these topical psoriasis medications include:

• Coal-tar ointments and shampoos
• Calcitriol and calcipotriene
• Steroid-based creams
• Salicylic acid
• Prescription retinoids

In moderate to severe cases, dermatologists may prescribe phototherapy as a psoriasis treatment. Some forms of phototherapy used are:

• Ultraviolet B light (UVB)
• Narrow-band UVB therapy
• PUVA therapy (the drug psoralen combined with UVA light)

If other psoriasis prescriptions aren't working, the doctor may suggest drugs called biologics. These drugs target parts of the immune system to help reduce psoriasis symptoms. However, they can lower your body's defenses against other illnesses.

There are also new treatments becoming available using excimer lasers to deliver localized ultraviolet light to areas of the skin. These treatments are more potent, and require less frequent sessions than traditional light therapy to be effective.

Lifestyle adjustments like weight loss, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption have also been proven to help reduce psoriasis flare-ups and lessen negative symptoms.

If you believe you're experiencing a form of psoriasis, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor on Maple about it.

They will be able to help you monitor the condition and confirm whether or not you are experiencing psoriasis, or make recommendations for further testing.

You should also talk to your doctor about psoriasis if:

• You begin experiencing joint problems, such as pain, swelling, or less mobility
• You're concerned about the appearance of your skin
• You're experiencing chronic or severe pain and discomfort
• The pain becomes widespread
• Your condition doesn't improve with treatment

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists via secure text, audio or video call. Sign in to your Maple account to start a visit. Learn more about how Maple works here.

A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Not every visit leads to a prescription. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to care online. Connect with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in minutes via secure text, audio or video call.

Our membership costs $85/month. One membership. Care for your whole family. In eligible provinces, membership includes:

• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
• Pediatric care: covered pediatric primary care visits, available by appointment
• Second Medical Opinion: when you're unsure about a complex diagnosis, like cancer or MS, or want to understand all your options, you and your family can access an expert Second Medical Opinion
• Personal Health Check-Ins: personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to help you stay on top of your health
• iCBT courses: internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy self-assessments and courses
• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
• Specialist referrals: a referral to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed

Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

Your Maple monthly membership covers virtual care for you, your spouse and your dependents under the age of 18 who share the same primary residence. Full disclaimer and refund policy here.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX, plus Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Privacy is at the core of how we deliver care. We follow Canadian privacy and healthcare laws, including PIPEDA and PHIPA, to protect your personal and health information.

Our policies and consent processes are simple and easy to understand, so you stay in control. Strong security infrastructure and strict data policies protect every session. You keep control of your personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. We also work with privacy and security experts and review our policies regularly.

All doctors and nurse practitioners who deliver care through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their regulatory colleges. They must follow the telemedicine policies set by the medical regulator in each province.

Regulators across Canada recognize the value of virtual care. It helps improve access to care for patients and makes care delivery more efficient for practitioners and Canada's healthcare system.