What is Psoriasis?

If you've ever had red, flaky skin problems, someone may have suggested you could have Psoriasis. And the first thing that usually comes to mind when that happens is a question: "What is Psoriasis?"

Psoriasis - the P is silent when pronouncing the word - is a chronic, long term skin disease that's thought to be caused by problems with the immune system. It's not contagious though. You can't catch it through contact with someone, or give to others when you have it yourself.

The most common form of Psoriasis tends to happen most on elbows, knees or in your scalp. It usually involves having red flaky scaling, lesions, and inflamation. Sometimes these red patches can also occur in the genital areas, and accompanying symptoms of Psoriasis often include nail problems - such as yellowed nails which look like they have fungus growth problems - and hair loss.

This type of Psoriasis also tends to itch in the areas where red, scaley patches have developed, and can even be manifested as severely dry, cracked and bleeding areas. This type of psoriasis is usually referred to as Plaque psoriasis.

What is Psoriasis in other forms? Psoriasis can come in several different forms, and each has it's own name. Small red spots on the skin is a form of Psoriasis known as guttate psoriasis; Postular psoriasis is a form which shows as white postules on the skin surrounded by red skin. There's also inverse psoriasis which develops as red lesions in the folds of your skin, and erythrodermic psoriasis is a type which involves widespread redness of your skin combined with severe itching as well as pain.

What causes Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects many adults. It's estimated that in the United States, over 4.5 million adults have been diagnosed with the problem, and 20% of those are estimated to have moderate to severe cases of Psoriasis.

It's not fully known yet exactly what causes Psoriasis, but studies so far indicate it's a result of actions and reactions from our body's immune system. The human body usually shed's skin from it's surface every thirty days or so. As part of that process, new skin cells are developed deep underneath the surface layer, and these slowly rise to the top over the 30 day time frame.

With Psoriasis however, those new skin cells rise to the top much more quickly. Surfacing in just a few days instead of 30, and this causes the skin cells to "pile up" because older cells aren't yet ready to be shed. This process is thought to be an over-reaction of our body's immune system.

It's not uncommon to see psoriasis in people who have had other family members develop the condition too, so psoriasis is considered hereditary. It's possible for a person to never have problems with psoriasis, regardless of how many family members may have had the problems themselves.

Psoriasis usually starts with some sort of trigger. Stress can cause psoriasis for instance, as can certain medications. Getting a severe infection such as strep throat can also cause Psoriasis. Some studies have even shown that psoriasis appears to be connected to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety and even loneliness too.