Psoriasis

Psoriasis (say "sor-eye-ah-sus") is a condition that affects your skin and causes thick red marks that look like scales to form. The thick scaling is due to an increase in the number of skin cells. Sometimes pus-filled blisters form. Most of the time, the skin on the elbows and knees is affected, but psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp, fingernails and mouth, and even the skin over the joints. Psoriasis tends to run in families and it usually appears between the ages of 15 and 35.

Doctors now believe that psoriasis starts with the immune system. T cells, a type of white blood cell, usually protect the body against infection and disease by attacking bacteria and viruses. However, when you have psoriasis, your T cells mistakenly attack your skin cells instead. Your body then produces other immune system responses, leading to swelling and rapid production of of skin cells.

Certain things that can cause the psoriasis to get worse include:

No. You can't catch psoriasis from another person or give it to someone by touching them, and you can't spread it to other parts of your body.

There are various treatments for psoriasis. Your doctor will decide which one is right for you. Keeping your skin moisturized with an over-the-counter product is a good first step. Body lotion can help to remove the scales.

Prescription creams, ointments, lotions and gels (also called topical medicines) that you put on the affected areas are often used to treat psoriasis. Your doctor may tell you to put your medicine on the areas of psoriasis before you go to bed and then cover the areas with plastic wrap (such as Saran Wrap). If you don't respond to any of these treatments, your doctor may prescribe a new medicine that is given as an injection. This new medication is used for moderate to severe cases of psoriasis.

Special shampoos are used for psoriasis on the scalp. In more severe cases, medicines are taken in pill form. Other treatments include a special type of ultraviolet light therapy.

Sunlight can help psoriasis, but be careful not to stay in the sun too long. A sunburn can make your psoriasis worse. You should use a sunscreen on the parts of your skin that aren't affected by psoriasis. It's especially important to put sunscreen on your face.

The scales of psoriasis should improve almost immediately after you begin treatment. It may take 2 to 6 weeks for the affected areas of your skin to return to a more normal thickness, and the redness may last several months. While psoriasis will improve, it may not completely go away. Sometimes, certain scaly spots will get better at the same time that other spots get worse.

After you've been using a certain type of medicine for awhile, your psoriasis may "get used to" the treatment. If this happens, your medicine may not be as effective as it once was. Your doctor may change your medicine. Sometimes you may need a stronger dose of medicine. Talk to your doctor if your psoriasis doesn't seem to be getting better with treatment.