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) - 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
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What Is Psoriasis?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Psoriasis/psoriasis_ff.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/Informacion_de_Salud/Psoriasis/default.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
- Psoriasis Patients Happy with Home-Based Treatment(05/08/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83972.html
- Having Psoriasis Raises Risk of Diabetes, Hypertension(04/20/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83135.html
- Psoriasis Drug Raptiva Pulled From U.S. Market(04/09/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82700.html
- FDA Statement on the Voluntary Withdrawal of Raptiva from the U.S. Market(04/08/2009, Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01992.html
- Severe Cases of Psoriasis Can Be Associated with Other Serious Medical Conditions(03/05/2009, American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/Releases/Dermatologists_Caution_That_Severe_Cases_of_Psoria/
- More News on Psoriasis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_p.html#psoriasis
- About Psoriatic Arthritis: The Diagnosis(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/psa/diagnosis.php
- Phototherapy(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/cosmetics/phototherapy.htm
- 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
- 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
- What Is Scalp Psoriasis?(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.skincarephysicians.com/psoriasisnet/scalp_psoriasis_overview.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 in the Workplace(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/about/living/workplace/
- 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) - 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
- If I Had - Scaly Plaques on Elbows and Knees(Insidermedicine) - http://www.insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_-_Scaly_Plaques_on_Elbows_and_Knees_-_Dr_Richard_Langley_MD_FCPC_2941.aspx?p=mdlnp
- What Is Known about Psoriasis: Immune System Involvement(National Psoriasis Foundation) - http://www.psoriasis.org/research/known/immune.php
- 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
- 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
- Article: The genetics of psoriasis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19363861&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: LCD plus NB-UVB reduces time to improvement of psoriasis vs.... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19363853&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Biologic survival. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19363851&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(National Psoriasis Foundation) - 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/