Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. Psoriasis is a chronic, long-lasting disease. Psoriasis is not contagious.
There are five types of psoriasis. The type of psoriasis you have may help you determine the best treatment for you. The types are:
Psoriasis is believed to be hereditary. It is believed that at least 10 percent of the general population inherits one or more of the genes that create a predisposition to psoriasis. However, only 2 percent to 3 percent of the population develops the disease. It is believed that both the predisposition to psoriasis plus becoming exposed to specific external factors known as "triggers" causes the disease to appear.
Psoriasis triggers are not universal. What may cause one person's psoriasis to become active, may not affect another. Known psoriasis triggers include:
People who get psoriasis usually have one or more person in their family who has psoriasis. Not everyone who has a family member with psoriasis will get psoriasis. But psoriasis is common. In the United States, about 7.5 million people have psoriasis. Most people, about 80%, have plaque psoriasis.
Psoriasis can begin at any age. Most people get psoriasis between 15 and 30 years of age. By age 40, most people who will get psoriasis, about 75%, have psoriasis. Another common time for psoriasis to begin is between 50 and 60 years of age. Whites get psoriasis more often than other races.
To diagnose psoriasis, a dermatologist:
Sometimes a dermatologist also removes a bit of skin and view it under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Treating psoriasis has benefits. Treatment can reduce signs and symptoms of psoriasis, which usually makes a person feel better. With treatment, some people see their skin completely clear. Treatment can even improve a person's quality of life.
Work with your doctor to find a treatment—or treatments—that reduce or eliminate your symptoms. What works for one person with psoriasis might not work for another. There are multiple options available for treatment which include:
Living with psoriasis has unique challenges. The good news is health care providers are becoming more aware of the impact psoriasis can have on a person's quality of life. The best way to prevent flare ups is to avoid known triggers, such as stress or foods. You should also work with your dermatologist to manage the symptoms.
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes scaling and inflammation (pain, swelling, heat, and redness). Skin cells grow deep in the skin and slowly rise to the surface. This process is called cell turnover, and it takes about a month. With psoriasis, it can happen in just a few days because the cells rise too fast and pile up on the surface.
Most psoriasis causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. These patches can itch or feel sore. They are often found on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet. But they can show up other places such as fingernails, toenails, genitals, and inside the mouth.
Anyone can get psoriasis, but it occurs more often in adults. In many cases, there is a family history of psoriasis. Certain genes have been linked to the disease. Men and women get psoriasis at about the same rate.
Psoriasis begins in the immune system, mainly with a type of white blood cell called a T cell. T cells help protect the body against infection and disease. With psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake. They become so active that they set off other immune responses. This leads to swelling and fast turnover of skin cells. People with psoriasis may notice that sometimes the skin gets better and sometimes it gets worse. Things that can cause the skin to get worse include:
Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. The doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.
Treatment depends on:
All treatments don't work the same for everyone. Doctors may switch treatments if one doesn't work, if there is a bad reaction, or if the treatment stops working.
Topical Treatment: Treatments applied right on the skin (creams, ointments) may help. These treatments can:
Light Therapy:Natural ultraviolet light from the sun and artificial ultraviolet light are used to treat psoriasis. One treatment, called PUVA, uses a combination of a drug that makes skin more sensitive to light and ultraviolet A light.
Systemic Treatment: If the psoriasis is severe, doctors might prescribe drugs or give medicine through a shot. This is called systemic treatment. Antibiotics are not used to treat psoriasis unless bacteria make the psoriasis worse.
Combination Therapy: When you combine topical (put on the skin), light, and systemic treatments, you can often use lower doses of each. Combination therapy can also lead to better results.
Doctors are learning more about psoriasis by studying: