Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsTypesCauses and TriggersDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsLiving With PsoriasisNext in Psoriasis GuidePsoriasis Symptoms, Types, and Images
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Types
Causes and Triggers
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Living With Psoriasis
Next in Psoriasis Guide
Tanja Ivanova / Getty Images
Psoriasisis anautoimmune skin disease. The underlying cause is a malfunctioning immune system that attacks healthy tissue. This reaction causesinflammationthat encourages skin cells to reproduce too quickly. The skin cells then pile up, forming patches of skin calledplaques. Psoriasis often comes with flare-ups, times when symptoms intensify, which may be linked to triggers.
There are different types of psoriasis, but the most common isplaque psoriasis. It affects 80% to 90% of people with the condition.Psoriasis plaques can appear anywhere on the body, but they most commonly appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, and trunk.
Psoriasis sometimes occurs with another autoimmune disease calledpsoriatic arthritis (PsA), which mainly affects the joints and the areas where ligaments and tendons meet bone.
This article covers the causes of psoriasis, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
Psoriasis Symptoms
Psoriasis plaques (thick skin areas) can develop on different body parts. The plaques are sometimes covered with scales, a thick white or grayish coating of dead skin cells.
Color: On lighter skin tones, plaques appear red and are covered in silvery scales. On darker skin, they may appear salmon-colored, dark brown, purple, or violet with grayish scales.People with darker skin might also have more scaling, more affected skin areas, and skin lesions misdiagnosed as hyperpigmentation (patches of darker skin).
Lesion size and location: Psoriasis plaques can appear on both small and large areas. Small psoriatic lesions sometimes join to form larger patches. Plaques typically appear in the same areas on both sides of the body. For example, if one knee or elbow is covered, the other is also affected.How it feels: Plaques will be itchy, painful, and tender. Scratching can cause abrasions and allow fluids to leak from the skin. This can lead to secondary infections.Additional symptoms of psoriasis are:
anand purohit / Getty Images
Plaque Psoriasis: Pictures and Symptoms of the Types You May See on Your Body
Types of Psoriasis
Psoriasis types include:
guttate psoriasis.Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Fingernail psoriasis.Rupert Weidemann / Getty Images
Rupert Weidemann / Getty Images
What Causes Psoriasis?
The cause of psoriasisis an immune system attack on the body’s tissues.White blood cells, called T cells, mistakenly attack skin cells, which causes skin cell production to increase.The new skin cells are pushed to the skin’s surface, where they pile up.
Many people inherit genes that make it more likely for them to develop psoriasis. If you have a family member with the condition, you are at increased risk for psoriasis.
The symptoms of psoriasis can develop because of specific disease triggers. These, in combination withgenetic predisposition, increase your risk for psoriasis.Factors that may lead to the development of psoriasis include:
Psoriasis Is Not Contagious
Psoriasis Flare Triggers
Psoriasis is known for causing periods offlare-ups, when symptoms of the condition worsen. Triggers like stress, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, skin trauma, illness, medications, and weather changes often cause flare-ups.
Dealing With Psoriasis on Your Back
Diagnosis of Psoriasis
If you have skin irritation, a rash, or flaky, dry skin that lasts longer than a few weeks, see a healthcare provider. Your provider will examine your skin and determine the cause of skin lesions. For an accurate diagnosis, you will want to see a dermatologist—a specialist in diagnosing and treating nail, skin, and hair conditions.
To diagnose psoriasis, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your health and examine your skin, nails, and scalp. They might also take a small sample of the affected skin (biopsy) to examine under a microscope. Askin biopsycan distinguish psoriasis from other skin diseases.
Psoriasis Severity
Psoriasis severity varies from person to person. The condition is measured on a scale from mild to severe. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation:
Psoriasis Treatment
The goal of psoriasis treatment is to stop skin cells from growing and to remove scales. Youroptions for treating psoriasisaretopical medicines(creams, ointments, etc.), oral and injected medicines, andphototherapy(light therapy).
The treatment your healthcare provider recommends will depend on the severity of your psoriasis symptoms and how responsive you have been to previous treatments. You might need to try different medicines or a combination of treatments before you find something that best works for you.
Oral/injected medicines: If you have moderate to severe psoriasis or topical treatments have not helped you, your healthcare provider might prescribe systemic oral and injected medicines. These medicines are systemic because they affect the entire body and work to calm down your overactive immune system.
These include:
Phototherapy: Also called light therapy, phototherapy is prescribed to people with moderate to severe psoriasis alone or with other therapies. It involves exposing the skin to consistent and controlled amounts of light.
Your options for light therapy might include ultraviolet (UV) B broadband, UVB narrowband,psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), andexcimer laser.
Is Psoriasis Painful? Pain-Relief Tips
Is Psoriasis Curable?
Psoriasis is alifelong conditionthat never goes away. There is no cure for it, and you will need to manage the condition for the rest of your life. The goals of psoriasis treatment are to reduce disease severity and improve quality of life.Healthcare providers focus on the goals that matter to the person living with psoriasis.
It typically goes through periods of flare-ups and remission (improved symptoms). The average time for remission is one to 12 months, but some people experience remission for a year or longer.
Even with remission, the underlying disease process is always there, and symptoms can return at any time. That is why staying on top of your treatment plan is crucial.
Supplements for Psoriasis: Which Ones Have Benefits or Risks?
Lifestyle and Complementary or Alternative Treatments
Some lifestyle habits might affect the way your treatments work. For example, smoking and drinking alcohol might reduce the effectiveness of some medicines. Changing your lifestyle may help you better manage your psoriasis. Your healthcare provider can help you to decide what alternative treatments might help you.
Let your healthcare provider know if you want to try alternative therapies likeacupuncture, herbal therapies, and dietary supplements. They can help you decide which therapies might benefit you and your unique health situation.
Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: Prescription Treatments and Home Remedies
How Long Will Treatments Take to Work?
When you start a new treatment, results will not come quickly. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends waiting at least three months before deciding whether a treatment works.
The organization considers a 75% improvement or reduced skin involvement to 3% body areas an acceptable treatment response. However, newer therapies can offer 90% to 100% skin clearance.
Psoriasis symptoms do not go away overnight, so patience is key. Don’t stop taking medicines or going to your phototherapy appointments because symptoms have improved. Psoriasis is a chronic condition. It requires long-term care, and you should never stop or change treatments without first checking with your healthcare provider.
If you have received a diagnosis of psoriasis and are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, you will want to reach out to your healthcare provider. You should also inform them if treatments don’t appear to be helping or if side effects affect your quality of life.
Risks and Complications Associated With Psoriasis
People living with psoriasis might developcomorbid conditions—diseases that are present simultaneously with psoriasis.
Some health conditions affect people with psoriasis more commonly than the general population. These include:
This is because thesame inflammatory processespresent in psoriasis are also responsible for many of these other serious conditions.
Medications for treating psoriasis suppress the immune system and make you more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, and pathogens.
If you notice new or worsening symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. These could be signs of another condition, worsening psoriasis, or reduced treatment response. Addressing these issues quickly helps you avoid serious problems.
Health Complications of Psoriasis
Living with psoriasis is difficult. You might experience skin pain that causes burning, stinging, cracking, bleeding, and itching. If you have PsA, you might also have joint pain and swelling in your fingers or toes and in the entheses, areas where tissue, such as tendons and ligaments, attaches to bone. There are ways to address these problems, such as:
Psoriasis Statistics and Stigma
Psoriasis is not “just a rash.” For most people with psoriasis, the condition causes problems in their everyday lives and can increase their risk for serious health problems, including depression andanxiety.
Summary
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. It causes thick, red lesions. Psoriasis is diagnosed with a medical history, physical exam, and a biopsy. Psoriasis has no cure. Treatment is aimed at remission or nearly clear skin. Treatment options include topical therapies, oral and injected medicines, and light therapy.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Skin of color resource center.Yang J, Lee K, Chang GT.Treatment of psoriasis with exudation: three case studies.Journal of Korean Medicine. 2016;37(2):110-118. doi:10.13048/jkm.16027American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can a child have psoriasis?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: can you have more than one?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: causes.Huang YH, Kuo CF, Huang LH, Hsieh MY.Familial aggregation of psoriasis and co-aggregation of autoimmune diseases in affected families.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):115. doi:10.3390/jcm8010115Kamiya K, Kishimoto M, Sugai J, et al.Risk factors for the development of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(18):4347. doi:10.3390/ijms20184347Tampa M, Sarbu MI, Mitran MI, et al.The pathophysiological mechanisms and the quest for biomarkers in psoriasis, a stress-related skin disease.Dis Markers. 2018;2018:5823684. doi:10.1155/2018/5823684Ford AR, Siegel M, Bagel J, et al.Dietary recommendations for adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: a systematic review.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(8):934-950. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1412American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?Liu S, He M, Jiang J, et al.Triggers for the onset and recurrence of psoriasis: a review and update.Cell Commun Signal. 2024;22(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12964-023-01381-0National Psoriasis Foundation.Why treat?National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.Svoboda SA, Ghamrawi RI, Owusu DA, Feldman SR.Treatment goals in psoriasis: which outcomes matter most?Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(4):505-511. doi:10.1007/s40257-020-00521-3American Academy of Dermatology Association.How long will I have to treat my psoriasis?National Psoriasis Foundation.Complementary and integrative medicine.National Psoriasis Foundation.Treat to target.Subramonian A, Walter M.Newer biologics for the treatment of plaque psoriasis[Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2021.Lowes MA, Suárez-Fariñas M, Krueger JG.Immunology of psoriasis.Annu Rev Immunol. 2014;32:227-255. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120225National Psoriasis Foundation.Integrative approaches to care.Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, et al.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(8):940-946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007Armstrong A, Jarvis S, Boehncke WH, et al.Patient perceptions of clear/almost clear skin in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results of the Clear About Psoriasis worldwide survey.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(12):2200-2207. doi:10.1111/jdv.15065
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Skin of color resource center.Yang J, Lee K, Chang GT.Treatment of psoriasis with exudation: three case studies.Journal of Korean Medicine. 2016;37(2):110-118. doi:10.13048/jkm.16027American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can a child have psoriasis?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: can you have more than one?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: causes.Huang YH, Kuo CF, Huang LH, Hsieh MY.Familial aggregation of psoriasis and co-aggregation of autoimmune diseases in affected families.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):115. doi:10.3390/jcm8010115Kamiya K, Kishimoto M, Sugai J, et al.Risk factors for the development of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(18):4347. doi:10.3390/ijms20184347Tampa M, Sarbu MI, Mitran MI, et al.The pathophysiological mechanisms and the quest for biomarkers in psoriasis, a stress-related skin disease.Dis Markers. 2018;2018:5823684. doi:10.1155/2018/5823684Ford AR, Siegel M, Bagel J, et al.Dietary recommendations for adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: a systematic review.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(8):934-950. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1412American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?Liu S, He M, Jiang J, et al.Triggers for the onset and recurrence of psoriasis: a review and update.Cell Commun Signal. 2024;22(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12964-023-01381-0National Psoriasis Foundation.Why treat?National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.Svoboda SA, Ghamrawi RI, Owusu DA, Feldman SR.Treatment goals in psoriasis: which outcomes matter most?Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(4):505-511. doi:10.1007/s40257-020-00521-3American Academy of Dermatology Association.How long will I have to treat my psoriasis?National Psoriasis Foundation.Complementary and integrative medicine.National Psoriasis Foundation.Treat to target.Subramonian A, Walter M.Newer biologics for the treatment of plaque psoriasis[Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2021.Lowes MA, Suárez-Fariñas M, Krueger JG.Immunology of psoriasis.Annu Rev Immunol. 2014;32:227-255. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120225National Psoriasis Foundation.Integrative approaches to care.Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, et al.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(8):940-946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007Armstrong A, Jarvis S, Boehncke WH, et al.Patient perceptions of clear/almost clear skin in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results of the Clear About Psoriasis worldwide survey.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(12):2200-2207. doi:10.1111/jdv.15065
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Skin of color resource center.Yang J, Lee K, Chang GT.Treatment of psoriasis with exudation: three case studies.Journal of Korean Medicine. 2016;37(2):110-118. doi:10.13048/jkm.16027American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can a child have psoriasis?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: can you have more than one?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: causes.Huang YH, Kuo CF, Huang LH, Hsieh MY.Familial aggregation of psoriasis and co-aggregation of autoimmune diseases in affected families.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):115. doi:10.3390/jcm8010115Kamiya K, Kishimoto M, Sugai J, et al.Risk factors for the development of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(18):4347. doi:10.3390/ijms20184347Tampa M, Sarbu MI, Mitran MI, et al.The pathophysiological mechanisms and the quest for biomarkers in psoriasis, a stress-related skin disease.Dis Markers. 2018;2018:5823684. doi:10.1155/2018/5823684Ford AR, Siegel M, Bagel J, et al.Dietary recommendations for adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: a systematic review.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(8):934-950. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1412American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?Liu S, He M, Jiang J, et al.Triggers for the onset and recurrence of psoriasis: a review and update.Cell Commun Signal. 2024;22(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12964-023-01381-0National Psoriasis Foundation.Why treat?National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.Svoboda SA, Ghamrawi RI, Owusu DA, Feldman SR.Treatment goals in psoriasis: which outcomes matter most?Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(4):505-511. doi:10.1007/s40257-020-00521-3American Academy of Dermatology Association.How long will I have to treat my psoriasis?National Psoriasis Foundation.Complementary and integrative medicine.National Psoriasis Foundation.Treat to target.Subramonian A, Walter M.Newer biologics for the treatment of plaque psoriasis[Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2021.Lowes MA, Suárez-Fariñas M, Krueger JG.Immunology of psoriasis.Annu Rev Immunol. 2014;32:227-255. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120225National Psoriasis Foundation.Integrative approaches to care.Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, et al.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(8):940-946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007Armstrong A, Jarvis S, Boehncke WH, et al.Patient perceptions of clear/almost clear skin in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results of the Clear About Psoriasis worldwide survey.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(12):2200-2207. doi:10.1111/jdv.15065
National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Skin of color resource center.
Yang J, Lee K, Chang GT.Treatment of psoriasis with exudation: three case studies.Journal of Korean Medicine. 2016;37(2):110-118. doi:10.13048/jkm.16027
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Can a child have psoriasis?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: can you have more than one?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: causes.
Huang YH, Kuo CF, Huang LH, Hsieh MY.Familial aggregation of psoriasis and co-aggregation of autoimmune diseases in affected families.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):115. doi:10.3390/jcm8010115
Kamiya K, Kishimoto M, Sugai J, et al.Risk factors for the development of psoriasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(18):4347. doi:10.3390/ijms20184347
Tampa M, Sarbu MI, Mitran MI, et al.The pathophysiological mechanisms and the quest for biomarkers in psoriasis, a stress-related skin disease.Dis Markers. 2018;2018:5823684. doi:10.1155/2018/5823684
Ford AR, Siegel M, Bagel J, et al.Dietary recommendations for adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: a systematic review.JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(8):934-950. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1412
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?
Liu S, He M, Jiang J, et al.Triggers for the onset and recurrence of psoriasis: a review and update.Cell Commun Signal. 2024;22(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12964-023-01381-0
National Psoriasis Foundation.Why treat?
National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.
Svoboda SA, Ghamrawi RI, Owusu DA, Feldman SR.Treatment goals in psoriasis: which outcomes matter most?Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(4):505-511. doi:10.1007/s40257-020-00521-3
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How long will I have to treat my psoriasis?
National Psoriasis Foundation.Complementary and integrative medicine.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Treat to target.
Subramonian A, Walter M.Newer biologics for the treatment of plaque psoriasis[Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2021.
Lowes MA, Suárez-Fariñas M, Krueger JG.Immunology of psoriasis.Annu Rev Immunol. 2014;32:227-255. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120225
National Psoriasis Foundation.Integrative approaches to care.
Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, et al.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(8):940-946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007
Armstrong A, Jarvis S, Boehncke WH, et al.Patient perceptions of clear/almost clear skin in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results of the Clear About Psoriasis worldwide survey.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;32(12):2200-2207. doi:10.1111/jdv.15065
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