According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis is a chronic disease of the immune system that manifests itself on the skin, causing scaly, red patches. It is caused by abnormal signals from the immune system that makes the skin cell cycle speed up.
Significance
In the United States, approximately 7.5 million people are living with psoriasis, according to Psoriasis.org.
Types
Although 80 percent of psoriasis diagnoses are for the plaque form of the disease, there are four other types of psoriasis. These include guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic.
Causes
The American Academy of Dermatology states that there is usually some sort of "trigger" to activate psoriasis. This can include stress, infection, cold weather, lack of sunlight, and certain medications.
Symptoms
Symptoms of psoriasis can be different for everyone, but common symptoms include swollen and stiff joints, dry and cracked skin, patches of skin that are red with silvery scales, and itching or burning.
Adverse Effects
In addition to the disease itself, psoriasis can impact a person in various ways. An affected individual may have depression, low self-esteem, social isolation, infections caused by scratching to relieve the itching from the disease, and anxiety.
Treatment
Treatment for psoriasis is based on the severity and type of disease, but common treatments are topical medications like corticosteroids or retinoids, phototherapy (light therapy), and oral medications like cyclosporine.
