Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. You usually get them on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of your body. 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 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, medications and light therapy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Psoriasis(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
Psoriasis(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in Spanish
What Is Psoriasis?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Also available in Spanish
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Psoriasis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Psoriasis: More Than Cosmetic(Food and Drug Administration)
Questions and Answers about Psoriasis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Latest News
Psoriasis Drug Raptiva Pulled From U.S. Market(04/09/2009, HealthDay)
FDA Statement on the Voluntary Withdrawal of Raptiva from the U.S. Market(04/08/2009, Food and Drug Administration)
Low-Dose Acitretin May Reduce Nail Psoriasis(03/17/2009, HealthDay)
Severe Cases of Psoriasis Can Be Associated with Other Serious Medical Conditions(03/05/2009, American Academy of Dermatology)
FDA Warns Users on Psoriasis Drug(02/19/2009, HealthDay)
More News on Psoriasis
Diagnosis/Symptoms
About Psoriatic Arthritis: The Diagnosis(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Treatment
Phototherapy(Logical Images)
Psoriasis Treatment(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Nutrition
Your Diet and Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Coping
Psychological Aspects of Psoriasis(American Academy of Dermatology)
Social Factors(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Disease Management
Are Lifestyle Choices Affecting Your Psoriasis?(American Academy of Dermatology)
Minimizing Flare-Ups(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Specific Conditions
About Psoriasis: The Forms and Specific Skin Sites of Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Psoriatic Arthritis(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Psoriatic Nails(American Academy of Dermatology)
What Is Scalp Psoriasis?(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Related Issues
Camouflage & Cover-Ups(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Frequently Asked Questions about Psoriasis(American Academy of Dermatology)
Psoriasis in the Workplace(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Psoriasis Triggers(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Pictures & Photographs
Psoriasis(Logical Images)
What Psoriasis Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Tutorials
Psoriasis(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Videos
If I Had - Scaly Plaques on Elbows and Knees(Insidermedicine) Return to top
Anatomy/Physiology
What Is Known about Psoriasis: Immune System Involvement(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Psoriasis(National Institutes of Health) Return to top
Genetics
Role of Genetics in Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Research
Psoriasis Increases Risk of Heart Attack(American Academy of Dermatology)
Researchers Identify Gene Which Causes Susceptibility to Psoriasis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: A multicenter open-label experience on the response of psoriasis to...
Article: Evaluation of the efficacy of acitretin therapy for nail psoriasis.
Article: Management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (part 2): clinical...
Psoriasis -- see more articles Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Glossary(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Directories
Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology)
National Psoriasis Foundation: Physician Directory(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Organizations
American Academy of Dermatology
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also available in Spanish
National Psoriasis Foundation Return to top
Statistics
About Psoriasis: Statistics(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Children
Emotional Effects of Psoriasis on Children(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Genital Psoriasis in Children(National Psoriasis Foundation)
Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis(Arthritis Foundation)
Psoriasis Information for Kids(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Teenagers
Psoriasis Information for Teens(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
Women
Conception, Pregnancy and Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation) Return to top
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Date last updated: 09 April 2009 Topic last reviewed: 26 November 2008