Psoriasis is a noncontagious, chronic skin condition that produces plaques of thickened, scaling skin. The dry flakes of skin scales result from the excessively rapid proliferation of skin cells. The proliferation of skin cells is triggered by inflammatory chemicals produced by specialized white blood cells called lymphocytes. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

    The spectrum of disease ranges from mild with limited involvement of small areas of skin to large, thick plaques to red inflamed skin affecting the entire body surface.

    Psoriasis is considered an incurable, long-term (chronic) inflammatory skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission. Many people note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months.

The facts:

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease.

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis.

Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are more common in people with psoriasis.

Psoriasis can be initiated by certain environmental triggers.

A predisposition for psoriasis is inherited in genes.

Although symptoms and signs vary, they include red, scaling plaques of itchy, elevated skin affecting the elbows, knees and scalp.

Psoriasis is not contagious.

Psoriasis gets better and worse spontaneously and can have periodic remissions (clear skin).

Psoriasis is controllable with medication.

Psoriasis is currently not curable.

There are many promising new therapies, including newer biologic drugs.