Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin disorder that most commonly appears as inflamed swollen skin lesions covered with silvery white scale. Among several types of Psoriasis, there is Plaque Psoriasis, which is characterized by raised, inflamed (red) lesions covered with a silvery white scale. The scale is actually a buildup of dead skin cells. There is also Guttate Psoriasis characterized by small red dots of psoriasis, which may have some scales.

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.

The onset of psoriatic arthritis generally occurs in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Males and females are affected equally. The skin disease (psoriasis) and the joint disease (arthritis) often appear separately. In fact, the skin disease precedes the arthritis in nearly 80% of patients.

Causes

Psoriasis may be one of the oldest recorded skin conditions. It was probably first described around 35 AD. Some evidence indicates an even earlier date. Yet, until recently, little was known about psoriasis. While scientists still do not fully know what causes psoriasis, research has significantly advanced our understanding.

The exact cause remains unknown. There may a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. The immune system is thought to play a major role. Despite research over the past 30 years looking at many triggers, the "master switch" that turns on psoriasis is still a mystery.

Symptoms

An individual with plaque psoriasis usually has patches of red, raised, scaly areas on the skin that may itch or burn. The patches are usually found on the knees, elbows, trunk, or scalp. Approximately, 9 out of 10 people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis.

The most commonly affected areas are the back of the elbows and the front of the knees. It often affects the scalp, too, and can, indeed, affect any part of the body. The standard appearance is of red areas where the skin is thickened and crusty, often with silvery flakes, which come off easily. This appears as patches, which are known as plaques.

Treatment

Homeopathic psoriasis treatments that helps to target the source of the problem with no damaging side effects. Dead Sea Salts, this traditional psoriasis treatment to healing naturally has been used in the Middle East for thousands of years. We have a 6 week psoriasis treatment program designed to use in your home.

Although doctors choose treatments based on the type and severity of psoriasis and the areas of skin affected, the traditional approach is to start with the mildest treatments — topical creams and ultraviolet light therapy (phototherapy) — and then progress to stronger ones if necessary. The goal is to find the most effective way to slow cell turnover with the fewest possible side effects. In spite of a wide range of options, psoriasis treatment can be challenging. The disease is unpredictable, going through cycles of improvement and worsening seemingly at whim.