What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis results from an autoimmune reaction that causes the skin cells to reproduce much more rapidly than they should, sometimes up to ten times as fast as normal skin cells. The most common type, plaque psoriasis, causes a buildup of skin cells. The body normally sheds old skin cells as new ones grow, but psoriasis causes skin cells to pile up into raised plaques with scales of thick skin.
This skin condition results in itching, inflammation, and discomfort. Fortunately, it can be treated and kept at a manageable level. Your dermatologist at Levy Dermatology will diagnose your type of psoriasis and recommend a treatment plan unique to you.
What Does Psoriasis Look Like?
Psoriasis plaques can appear almost anywhere on the body but occur most commonly on the elbows, knees, back, and scalp. Plaques look like areas of thick, red, uneven skin covered with skin flakes. Psoriasis can appear in other forms, but plaque psoriasis makes up most psoriasis cases. Guttate psoriasis, most common in children after an infection, resembles a spotty red rash, while pustular psoriasis forms painful blisters on the hands and feet.