Description: Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.
Psoriasis is a chronic (long-term) disease that affects about 7 million Americans – both males and females and the young and the old, although the late-20s is the average time in life that people first experience its symptoms. In its most typical form, called plaque psoriasis, itchy or sore plaques of thick red skin develop, commonly with silvery scales. These plaques can appear anywhere on the body, but the most common locations include the knees, elbows, scalp, legs, and buttocks. Psoriasis may also affec
Skin is inflamed in psoriasis, due to an over-active immune system. Recently, researchers have discovered that people with more severe forms of psoriasis also have inflammation throughout the inside of the body. About a third of people with psoriasis also get psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis that causes joints and the tissues surrounding the joints to become inflamed and painful. Other internal diseases, notably heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, hypertension, and depression, are also associated with
Psoriasis is not contagious and you cannot catch it from other people. In many cases, there is a family history of psoriasis and researchers have identified genes linked to the disease. Flares, or times when the symptoms are worse, can be common and many people report stress, infection, cold weather and certain medications may trigger this worsening or flare. Moderate-to-severe psoriasis may significantly impact quality of life, as many studies have demonstrated.