What is Psoriasis?

A chronic autoimmune condition that causes a rapid buildup of skin tissues and causes scaling of the skin on the skin’s surface is known as Psoriasis. The scales are inflamed and redness is a common symptom. Whitish-silver, thick, and red patches appear as psoriatic scales and can even crack & bleed. Uncommon areas of the skin affected by the psoriasis are nails, mouth, genital area.

What are the types of Psoriasis?

There are five different types of Psoriasis and they are:

• Plaque psoriasis
• Guttate psoriasis
• Pustular psoriasis
• Inverse psoriasis
• Erythrodermic psoriasis

What are the symptoms of  Psoriasis?

The symptoms of psoriasis are different from person to person and also depends on the type of psoriasis. However, the most common symptoms are:

• Inflamed, red, and raised patches on the skin
• Whitish-silver scales on the patches
• Skin drying and cracking
• Sore skin around the patch
• Thick and pitted nails
• Swollen and painful joints

What are the causes or triggers of Psoriasis?

The doctors are uncertain about the causes of psoriasis, but after years of research, the two prominent causes of psoriasis are the immune system and genetic factors. The common underlying causes that trigger psoriasis are:

• Diabetes
• IBD (inflammatory Bowel Disorder)
• Heart disease
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Alcohol consumption
• Injury
• Medications like antimalarials, hypertensive drugs, etc
• Infections 

However, to know the exact cause of psoriasis, please consult the doctor and have a discussion.

How is Psoriasis diagnosed?

Psoriasis can be diagnosed through physical examination and in a few cases, a biopsy can also be done to determine the type of the Psoriasis.