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Home >> Psoriasis >> What causes Psoriasis?

What causes Psoriasis?

Although psoriasis appears on the skin, it is actually caused by overactive cells in the immune system. Normally, the immune system acts as an internal security system, protecting the body from infection and injury. With psoriasis, however, special immune cells, called T-cells, become overactive.

This sets off a series of events that eventually make skin cells multiply so fast they begin to pile up on the surface of the skin because they cannot shed quickly enough. Normally, new skin cells take about a month to reach the surface, but, in plaque psoriasis this only takes 3-6 days.

Psoriasis isn't contagious and can't be spread through contact, because it can be a genetic disease, it sometimes affects several people in the same family, and a tendency to develop psoriasis can be passed from one generation to the next.

Symptoms may come and go in the natural course of psoriasis, but the disease itself doesnt go away. While there is presently no cure for psoriasis, its signs and symptoms can be controlled.

Healthy Skin and Psoriatic Skin

Types of Psoriasis

Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque Psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis around 80% of the people who have psoriasis have this type. It usually appears as patches of dry, raised, red skin covered with a flaky white build-up. These patches of skin, which are often itchy and painful, are known as plaques or lesions.

The most common areas of the body for psoriasis to appear are on the knees, elbows, scalp, trunk, and nails but psoriasis may develop anywhere on the surface of the skin.

Other Types of Psoriasis

Although plaque psoriasis is the most common, there are numerous types of the disease with differing symptoms and levels of severity. Generally, people will have only one form of psoriasis at a time, although it is possible for two types to occur at the same time or for one type to change to another.

Guttate Psoriasis commonly starts in childhood, often triggered by an infection such as strep throat or other conditions such as chicken pox, colds, and tonsillitis. Small, red lesions that look like tear drops on the skin usually appear on the trunk or limbs, although they may also appear on the scalp.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis is a particularly inflammatory type of psoriasis and the least common form of the disease. Often covering most of the body's surface, the skin will have large, red patches, which are often accompanied by severe pain and itching. It may occur suddenly as the first sign of psoriasis or develop over time in people with plaque psoriasis.

Pustular Psoriasis is either generalized (occurring in widespread areas of the body) or localized (appearing on the hands, feet or tips of fingers). It is characterized by the appearance of non-infectious, pus-filled blisters and is sometimes accompanied by severe itching, fever, or chills.

Palmoplantar Psoriasis is a form of localized pustular psoriasis that develops in the fleshy areas of the hands or feet.

Scalp Psoriasis usually develops when plaques are present in other areas of the body. It occurs in at least half of all cases of psoriasis. Lesions may appear on the hairline and extend to the nape of the neck or forehead and also commonly appear behind the ears.

Psoriasis is considered a genetic disease and may sometimes affect several people in the same immediate family or be passed from one generation to the next, but it is not contagious and can't be spread through contact. Psoriasis has the same likelihood of appearing in people of either gender. Although some people may be more likely to develop psoriasis than others, it can happen to anyone at any time of life.

A percentage of people who have psoriasis will go on to develop an inflammation of the joints (psoriatic arthritis).

Last Updated 24-03-2009

Esta guía rápida está patrocinada por Merck Serono.