Psoriasis Information

Information on psoriasis including pictures of psoriasis.

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a disease of the auto immune system which appears on the skin and can also affect the joints. Psoriasis is a common disease - approximately 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis (source: National Institutes Of Health).

There are 7 different types of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type accounting for approximately 80-90% of cases.

Plaque psoriasis affects areas of the skin in which the growth cycle of skin cells speed up caused by faulty signals sent out by the immune system.

The skin becomes inflamed, the skin cells stack up and in the case of plaque psoriasis silver white scales of skin develop over the inflamed area.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease. The word 'chronic' in medical terms refers to a long term condition which does not have a cure.

The 7 types of psoriasis:

Psoriasis is usually diagnosed by a physician or skin specialist (dermatologist) who will look at the areas of skin which are inflammed. These observations can determine the severity of the psoriasis which can differ greatly between people.

Psoriasis is can be graded on a scale from mild to moderate to severe depending on coverage of the skin.

Whilst psoriasis is a chronic disease with no cure there are various treatment which can help control this condition.

Treatment options include:

Alternative Therapy
Topical Treatment
Phototherapy
Photochemotherapy
Systemic Treatment