Psoriasis

Psoriasis Treatment

If you have psoriasis, you are not alone. Millions of people live with this chronic (long-lasting) condition. Some people who have psoriasis develop joint aches known as psoriatic arthritis. Learning about these conditions can help you make decisions about your treatment.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a skin disease that develops when your immune system tells your skin cells to grow too quickly. Typically, new skin cells form over several weeks. In psoriasis, the skin cells form in days, leading to a buildup of cells on the skin.

What does Psoriasis look like?

There are different types of psoriasis. Each type appears differently on the skin.

- - Plaque psoriasis
  - Guttate psoriasis
  - Pustular psoriasis
  - Inverse psoriasis
  - Erythrodermic psoriasis
  - Nail psoriasis

How did I get Psoriasis?

Approximately 1/3 of people who get psoriasis have a blood relative who has psoriasis. Scientists have learned that not everyone who inherits genes for psoriasis gets psoriasis. For psoriasis to appear, it seems that a person must inherit the right mix of genes and be exposed to a trigger. Further research is needed to identify which specific genes cause psoriasis.