What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis, pronounced "suh-rahy-uh-sis," is a rather common inflammatory skin disorder. Psoriasis is a chronic condition, meaning that it may come and go for the rest of your life, but that doesn't mean you'll have symptoms all the time. Psoriasis tends to flare up and then go into remission, which means you can be symptom-free for quite a while until something triggers a flare-up. There currently is not a cure yet, but there are lots of different psoriasis treatments available to help control the condition.

Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, but usually appears on the scalp, lower back, knees and elbows as raised, silvery, powdery scales with reddened skin underneath. This form is called "plaque psoriasis," and is the most common. There are four other forms of psoriasis: guttate, pustular, inverse, and erythrodermic. Psoriasis may cause itching and discomfort and can cause the skin to crack and bleed.

Who Gets Psoriasis?

Believe it or not, as many as five million Americans have psoriasis. It affects men and women equally, and it is most common in Caucasians, especially people with Northern European backgrounds. Although psoriasis can develop at any age, it most often appears between the ages of 15 and 35. It may sometimes look unpleasant, but it isn't contagious; you can't get it from touching someone with psoriasis and you can't give it to someone else.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Because psoriasis tends to run in families, it is believed to be hereditary. It may be caused by an abnormal immune response in the body. Some researchers believe that psoriasis occurs when the immune system goes into overdrive and speeds up the rate of skin cell growth. In people with active psoriasis, it appears that their skin cells are maturing faster and piling up before they can shed. This causes the typical lesions and scales.

How do I Know if I Have Psoriasis?

If you have any sort of skin rash that's causing you discomfort or concern, you should see your doctor. In most cases, a diagnosis can be made based on the skin's appearance. Your family doctor or dermatologist may decide to do a skin biopsy to rule out other conditions.

Symptoms of psoriasis, depending on the type of the disease, may include:

• Raised, rough areas of red skin on the elbows, knees, scalp and torso
• Dry, silvery or powdery scales
• Itchy, burning skin
• Pus-filled lesions on the palms or soles of the feet
• Red, smooth, shiny lesions that appear in skin folds
• Severely red skin that looks like sun burn
• Extreme itching and discomfort

How Can I Help Control Psoriasis Flare-ups?

If you have psoriasis, there are many things you can do to help control a flare-up. Treating your skin very gently is a great place to start. Take warm, not hot, baths or showers and gently pat your skin dry. Ask your doctor or dermatologist to recommend an effective moisturizer. Avoid using skincare products that contain perfumes and dyes. Keeping your skin hydrated is key, so try to avoid dry environments.

Certain medications can trigger flare-ups in people with psoriasis and even cause an initial outbreak in a person with a family history of psoriasis. Be sure to tell your doctor that you have psoriasis so they can take your condition into consideration when prescribing any new medications.

Try to avoid injuring your skin in any way. A cut, scratch or sunburn can cause psoriasis to appear on the area of injury.

Use all medications as directed by your doctor.

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