Psoriasis is a long-term (chronic) skin problem that causes skin cells to grow too quickly. This growth causes thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin (called plaques).
Normally, skin cells grow gradually and flake off about every 4 weeks. New skin cells grow to replace the outer layers of the skin as they shed. But in psoriasis, new skin cells move quickly to the surface of the skin in days rather than weeks. They build up and form thick plaques. The plaques range in size from small to large. They most often appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back.
Psoriasis is most common in adults. But children and teens can get it too.
There are several types of psoriasis. Symptoms for each type may vary, but the major symptoms are:
Other symptoms may include:
Symptoms may disappear (go into remission), even without treatment, and then return (flare up).
Your doctor can often recognize psoriasis by looking at your skin, scalp, and nails.
Tests usually aren't needed. But one or more of the following tests may be done.
Most cases of psoriasis are mild and can be treated with:
Depending on what type of psoriasis you have, treatment may also include:
In some cases, psoriasis can be hard to treat. You may need to try different combinations of treatments to find what works for you. Treatment for psoriasis may go on for a lifetime.
Most of the time psoriasis can be treated at home. These tips may improve your symptoms or help reduce the number of psoriasis flare-ups:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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