Psoriasis is a natural disease that affects the skin and joints and
common causes red-scaly patches on the skin. It is generally chronic
but non-contagious and can be caused by a number of factors
including lifestyle and diet. The scaly patches that are part of
natural Psorisis are actually areas of inflammation called psoriatic
plaques, where the skin accumulates rapidly and becomes
silvery-white.
While psoriasis frequently occurs on the skin of the elbows and
knees, it can also affect other areas including the scalp, genitals,
nails and other parts of the body. When finger nails and toe nails
are affected, the condition is known as psoriatic nail dystrophy.
When severe, psoriatic plaques can cover the entire body.
Psorisis (or psorisis as it is commonly spelled) can be of many
types with differing symptoms. The most common type is plaque
psoriasis which occurs in 80% of patients. Other types of psoriasis
include:
- Guttate Psorisis which is marked by small, red spots on the skin
- Pustular psoriasis or palmoplantar Psorisis in which the skin of
palms and soles develops white or yellow-brown pustules surrounded
by red skin
- Inverse or flexural psoriasis, marked by smooth, red lesions in
the skin folds
- Erythrodermic Psorisis, the widespread and painful version marked
by severe itching
- Nail psoriasis – causes discolouring under the nail plate, pitting
of the nails, thickening of skin under the nail and crumbling of the
nail
- Psoriatic Arthritis which involves joint and connective tissue
inflammation.
Psorisis is generally confused with eczema as the basic symptoms for
both the conditions are the same. The major difference between the
two is in their location on the body; while eczema favours the
inside of the arms and the back of the knees, psoriasis affects the
back of the elbows and the front of the knees.
