Psoriasis typically manifests itself as a rash on the skin, but it can also be found on the nails or joint areas.
Common symptoms include:
- Joint pain
- Skin rashes
- Skin dryness, flakiness, peeling of the skin
- Small bumps on the skin
- Skin that is overly thick and abnormally red
Psoriasis can affect more than just skin, which is why it’s important to seek an expert that can help identify and treat these other conditions. Patients with psoriasis have a higher risk of developing:
- Depression
- Heart disease
- Diabetes and obesity
- High blood pressure
- Joint stiffness and pain
Symptoms of psoriasis can differ from person to person and depend on the type of psoriasis.
Where does psoriasis come from?
The cause of psoriasis remains unclear, but experts believe it’s a combination of a few things. The immune system does not work properly and causes inflammation. This triggers new skin cells to form too quickly. The buildup of old cells being replaced by new ones creates the scaly skin. Normal skin cells are replaced every 20 to 30 days, while psoriasis patients make new skin cells every 3 to 4 days.
The cause of the immune system dysfunction is unknown, but it is believed that both genetics and environmental factors play a role.