There is a widespread myth that many people still repeat without thinking: that psoriasis is a nervous disease. But it turns out that this is completely incorrect, and it’s also dangerous because it can delay important diagnoses. Ricardo Galimberti, a dermatologist and professor at UBA, explains this well, clarifying that psoriasis is actually a genetic disease. The nervous system does not cause it, although stress can act as a trigger in those who already have it encoded in their genetic makeup.

The interesting thing is that many people still talk about it as if it were nervous. Galimberti insists that we need to put aside unfounded opinions. The key point: if stress is not in your genetics, no matter how stressful life gets, you will not develop psoriasis. The body simply expresses what is already programmed in your DNA. When there is pressure, those with the genetic predisposition manifest it; those without it do not.

Now, here’s what surprises many: psoriasis is not just a skin problem. It is a systemic disease, meaning it affects the entire body. Those who have it often have other comorbidities: obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular or liver problems. That’s why early diagnosis is so important. It’s not just about controlling what you see on the skin, but preventing those associated diseases from progressing.

The good news is that diagnosing psoriasis is quite straightforward. It doesn’t require invasive biopsy. A simple scraping of the affected area is enough to confirm the diagnosis. Most people seek medical help when they already have visible symptoms or discomfort that doesn’t go away.

From a biological standpoint, psoriasis is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease. T lymphocytes are like the orchestra conductor of the immune system in this case. One thing to know: it is not contagious. It has a recessive character and can present with different degrees of severity, from flexural areas to more extensive areas in advanced cases.

Regarding treatments, Galimberti is clear: applying film or conventional creams really has no scientific basis. The therapies that truly work are biologicals, especially monoclonal antibodies, which were developed thanks to advances in molecular biology. The problem is that these new medicines are extremely costly. They are available in Argentina, but access depends on whether your health insurance, prepayment plan, or the government covers them. That is the real barrier now: the financial toxicity of the most effective treatments.