What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, noncontagious skin disorder that appears in many different forms and can affect any part of the body, including the nails and scalp. Psoriasis is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the percentage of body surface involved and the impact on the patient's quality of life (QoL). Psoriasis may be one of several types: plaque psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, guttate psoriasis or inverse psoriasis. A dermatologist can help you to determine what type of psoriasis you may have.

Types of Psoriasis

Although psoriasis may affect any area of the body, it is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, hands, feet, and genitals. Plaque psoriasis, the most common type of the disease, is characterized by raised, thickened patches of red skin covered with silvery-white scales. Other types of psoriasis are characterized by different signs and symptoms. For example, pustular psoriasis is characterized by pus-like blisters, erythrodermic psoriasis is characterized by intense redness and swelling of a large part of the skin surface, guttate psoriasis is characterized by small, drop-like lesions, and inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth red lesions in the folds of the skin.

Although psoriasis may be almost unnoticeable in its early stages, patients often report an itching and/or burning sensation as the disease progresses. In particular, plaque psoriasis usually begins with small red bumps on the skin that progress to bigger, scaly patches that may become itchy and uncomfortable. As the scales accumulate, pink to deep red plaques with a white crust of silvery scales appear on the skin surface. The pictures below depict various types of psoriasis.

What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis (sore-i-a-sis) makes your skin red, dry, and crusty, especially around your elbows, knees, and scalp. You might also find it on your upper buttocks, your palms, the soles of your feet, and your genitals.

It tends to run in families. It is not contagious! You can not "catch" psoriasis from a person who has it, as you would from people who have a cold or other infection.

How do I know if I have psoriasis?

If your skin is scalier than usual, especially on your elbows and knees, it may be psoriasis. That's when you should go to a dermatologist for treatment.

Why do I have psoriasis?

Psoriasis tends to run in families, just as you may have inherited your grandmother's eyes, or your father's nose. Psoriasis is just another part of you.

Why is my skin different?

Skin with psoriasis tends to "grow" faster than skin not affected by psoriasis. Normal skin cells take four weeks to go from the bottom skin layer to the top skin layer, where they die. Skin with psoriasis grows and dies off in only three to four days. The cells pile up on top of each other, making silvery white scales that are called "plaques." The pile of cells makes the skin under it inflamed, red and itchy.

Can I make it go away?

Psoriasis may go away with different treatment, or sometimes on its own. But there isn't a cure. This means that you may need to keep on using your treatments. It can be a pain to put on lotion and go to the doctor, but it will help your psoriasis to look better, and even go away.

If you have a mild or average case of psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a cream or lotion that will help. If your skin is very dry and scaly, your doctor may treat you with pills, light therapy, or both.

What makes psoriasis worse?

Some people say their psoriasis gets worse when they are mad or upset, but other people say stress doesn't do anything to their psoriasis. You may want to watch your psoriasis for several weeks after you've been angry to see if it gets worse. Everyone gets mad or upset once in a while and it would be hard to avoid not doing that.

Other things like changes in the weather, injuries, illnesses and starting or stopping any medications can all lead to a flare-up of psoriasis. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes psoriasis get worse. That is why you should keep an eye on your case of psoriasis and see if you can pinpoint any patterns that make it better or worse.

Some people have noticed their psoriasis improves when they start or stop eating a certain kind of food. However, it's best to eat healthy food and to avoid junk food, because you're body is growing and needs a wide variety of nutrients.

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