Skin Disorders

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that affects both men and women. Psoriasis is not an infection and it is not contagious-you cannot “catch” it from anyone. The severity of psoriasis varies widely. The most common pattern is for the disease to be limited […]

Psoriasis is a skin disorder than can occur at any age in both men and women. Most commonly, psoriasis first appears as thick, flaky patches of skin on the elbows, knees, or other parts of the body. The patches may be silver or red. The skin flaking that occurs in psoriasis is known as scaling.

Normal skin has two layers: an outer layer called the epidermis and an inner layer called the dermis. Skin cells are created in the dermis and move up through the epidermis to the skin surface. Skin cells are continually dying and being replaced. Normally, skin cells mature and shed in about a month. In psoriasis,

It can be difficult for the doctor to diagnose psoriasis in the early stages, when the disease may be limited to rough patches on the elbows. Certain symptoms, such as a dandruff-like scalp condition or what looks like a fungal infection, may be hard to recognize as psoriasis. Nail pits may be a sign of

There are several different types of psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis Guttate psoriasis Psoriasis of special skin sites Other types of psoriasis Plaque Psoriasis This is the most common type of psoriasis. It typically appears as thick, flaky patches of skin on one or more parts of the body. Sometimes the patches of affected skin are large,

Triggering factors are events or conditions that cause psoriasis to flare up or worsen. Skin injury. Injury or trauma can make psoriasis worse. This feature of the disease is called the Koebner phenomenon. Patches of thick, flaky skin may appear following a burn, graze, or rash. If someone is prone to outbreaks of psoriasis, it is

Unfortunately, none of the available treatments for psoriasis is a cure. Treatment can often control the disease for long periods, but the disease can come back when treatment stops. But new biological therapies in development should offer better control while reducing the number of side effects. Treatment for psoriasis varies depending on: the type of

Psoriasis is a chronic (ongoing and persistent) skin disorder. Treatment can often control the disease for long periods. However, none of the available treatments is a cure. The disease can come back when treatment stops. Research continues to find more effective treatments and, eventually, a cure for psoriasis. Early results from studies underway to show