Where is psoriasis common

Possible triggers of psoriasis include an injury to your skin, throat infections and using certain medicines. The condition is not contagious, so it cannot be spread from person to person. In rare cases, a small sample of skin called a biopsy will be sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. This determines the exact type of psoriasis and rules out other skin disorders, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, lichen planus , lichen simplex and pityriasis rosea.

You may be referred to a specialist in diagnosing and treating skin conditions dermatologist if your doctor is uncertain about your diagnosis, or if your condition is severe. If your doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which is sometimes a complication of psoriasis, you may be referred to a doctor who specialises in arthritis rheumatologist. You may have blood tests to rule out other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis , and X-rays of the affected joints may be taken.

There's no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches. In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids.

Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin. If these are not effective, or your condition is more severe, a treatment called phototherapy may be used. Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.

In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. These are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the whole body. Viven Williams: But Dr. Rachel Miest says there are other nail changes you should not ignore that may indicate …. Viven Williams: … and other issues. Here are six examples: No. This could be a sign of psoriasis.

Two is clubbing. Clubbing happens when your oxygen is low and could be a sign of lung issues. Three is spooning. It can happen if you have iron-deficient anemia or liver disease.

Four is called "a Beau's line. Five is nail separation. This may happen as a result of injury, infection or a medication. And six is yellowing of the nails, which may be the result of chronic bronchitis.

Psoriasis is thought to be an immune system problem that causes the skin to regenerate at faster than normal rates. In the most common type of psoriasis, known as plaque psoriasis, this rapid turnover of cells results in scales and red patches.

Just what causes the immune system to malfunction isn't entirely clear. Researchers believe both genetics and environmental factors play a role. The condition is not contagious. Many people who are predisposed to psoriasis may be free of symptoms for years until the disease is triggered by some environmental factor.

Common psoriasis triggers include:. Anyone can develop psoriasis. About a third of instances begin in the pediatric years. These factors can increase your risk:. Psoriasis care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Overview How psoriasis develops Open pop-up dialog box Close. How psoriasis develops In psoriasis, the life cycle of your skin cells greatly accelerates, leading to a buildup of dead cells on the surface of the epidermis. Plaque psoriasis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Plaque psoriasis Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Guttate psoriasis Guttate psoriasis, more common in children and adults younger than 30, appears as small, water-drop-shaped lesions on the trunk, arms, legs and scalp.

Scalp psoriasis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Scalp psoriasis Psoriasis causes red patches of skin covered with silvery scales and a thick crust on the scalp most often extending just past the hairline that may bleed when removed.

Inverse psoriasis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Anyone can get psoriasis. It occurs mostly in adults, but children can also get it. Men and women seem to have equal risk. Psoriasis is not contagious. This means you cannot get psoriasis from contact e. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells. How is psoriasis diagnosed and treated?