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.
Psoriasis can last a long time, even a lifetime. Symptoms come and go. Things that make them worse include
- Infections
- Stress
- Dry skin
- Certain medicines
Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It sometimes runs in families. Treatments include creams, medications and light therapy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Psoriasis(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/skin/disorders/199.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/skin/disorders/199.printerview.html
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Psoriasis
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/psoriasis/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/psoriasisspanish/htm/index.htm -
What Is Psoriasis?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Psoriasis/psoriasis_ff.asp
- Psoriasis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/psoriasis/DS00193/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Psoriasis: More Than Cosmetic(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/504_psoriasis.html
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Questions and Answers about Psoriasis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Psoriasis/default.asp
- FDA Requires Stronger Fungal Infection Warning for TNF Blockers(09/15/2008, Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/tnf091508.html
- After Fits and Starts, New Hope for Psoriasis Patients(08/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68515.html
- About Psoriatic Arthritis: The Diagnosis(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psa/diagnosis.php
- Psoriasis Treatment(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/
- Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psa/
- Your Diet and Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/diet/
- Psychological Aspects of Psoriasis(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/psychological.html
- Social Factors(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/living/social/
- Are Lifestyle Choices Affecting Your Psoriasis?(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/lifestyle_choices.htm
- How to Make Psoriasis Control More Effective This Summer(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/summer_control.html
- Minimizing Flare-Ups(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/flare_ups.html
- About Psoriasis: The Forms and Specific Skin Sites of Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psoriasis/
- Psoriatic Arthritis(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psa/
- Psoriatic Nails(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/psoriatic_nails.html
- Understanding Scalp Psoriasis May Head Off Hair Loss(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/scalp_psoriasis.html
- Camouflage & Cover-Ups(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/living/social/camouflage.php
- Frequently Asked Questions about Psoriasis(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/FAQs.html
- Psoriasis Triggers(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/triggers.html
- Psoriasis(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/psoriasis.htm
- What Psoriasis Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/looks_like.html
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Psoriasis(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/psoriasis/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/psoriasisspanish/htm/index.htm
- What Is Known about Psoriasis: Immune System Involvement(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/research/known/immune.php
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Psoriasis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Psoriasis%22
- Role of Genetics in Psoriasis(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/research/known/genetics.php
- Psoriasis Increases Risk of Heart Attack(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/heart_attack.html
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Researchers Identify Gene Which Causes Susceptibility to Psoriasis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2006/psoriasis_gene.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Long-term data in the treatment of psoriasis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18700911&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Inflammation in atherosclerosis and psoriasis: common pathogenic mechanisms and the... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18700910&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Long-term prognosis in patients with psoriasis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18700909&tool=MedlinePlus
- Psoriasis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=psoriasis[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/glossary.html
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Physician Directory(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/directory/
- American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- National Psoriasis Foundation - http://www.psoriasis.org/
- About Psoriasis: Statistics(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/stats/
- Emotional Effects of Psoriasis on Children(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/youth/parents/children.php
- Genital Psoriasis in Children(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psoriasis/genital/children.php
- Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/diseasecenter/juvenilepsoriaticarthritis.asp
- Psoriasis Information for Kids(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/youth/kids/
- Psoriasis Information for Teens(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/youth/teens/
- Conception, Pregnancy and Psoriasis - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psoriasis/pregnancy/
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Psoriasis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/