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Summary
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. You usually get the patches on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of your body. Some people who have psoriasis also get a form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.
A problem with your immune system causes psoriasis. In a process called cell turnover, skin cells that grow deep in your skin rise to the surface. Normally, this takes a month. In psoriasis, it happens in just days because your cells rise too fast.
Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. Your doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.
Psoriasis can last a long time, even a lifetime. Symptoms come and go. Things that make them worse include:
- Infections
- Stress
- Dry skin
- Certain medicines
Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It sometimes runs in families. Treatments include creams, medicines, and light therapy.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- Phototherapy (VisualDX)
Related Issues
- Scalp Psoriasis vs. Seborrheic Dermatitis: What's the Difference? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Psoriatic Arthritis: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Genetics
- Generalized pustular psoriasis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Psoriasis (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Psoriasis (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Children
- Psoriasis (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Women
- Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)
Patient Handouts
- Guttate psoriasis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Psoriasis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish