What Does Psoriasis Look Like? Is It Contagious?

Psoriasis is a skin disease. It looks like red, dry, scaly patches on the skin. These are known as "lesions". From when it first appears, it can last the rest of the person's life, with periods of relative calm and other "flairs" when it is worse. It can be anywhere on the body, and can appear at any age. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of excessive and inflammation skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes on a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the knees and elbows, but can affect any area including the gentials and scalp. In contrast to eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the extensor aspect of the joint.

Is It Contagious?
Psoriasis is absolutely not contagious. You won't get it from being around someone who has it, even if you come in contact with them, their skin, their breath, their saliva, etc. There is a genetic tendency, however, so if the mother or father has it, there's a good chance that one or more of the children will also develop it during their lifetime.

Does It Hurt?
Some people with psoriasis do not have any issues with the way it feels, but most do. The raw skin is more often described as burning, stinging, bleeding, itchy or sore.

How Many People Have It?
In the United States, 4.5 million adults have psoriasis. Children can also get it, but most people see it between 15 and 35 years old. It can be in those of any race, and men and women both get it.

What Causes Psoriasis?
Researchers are still figuring out what causes psoriasis. It is believed to be an auto-immune disease, and can be triggered by stress, skin injuries, drug reactions, or an infection. In psoriasis, the immune system seems to be working overtime, creating new skin cells at a much faster rate than needed. These cells accumulate on the skin, creating the lesions on the skin. Research is continually ongoing.

How Severe Is It?
Psoriasis can be severe, but for many people it is just mild or moderate. There are two determinates of severity. First, how much of the body does the psoriasis cover? For measuring purposes, the palm of the hand covers one percent of the body. Secondly, how much does the psoriasis limit your daily activities? This will differ depending on where the psoriasis is and how it impacts the person's life.

What About A Cure?
Research is ongoing, but so far, there is no cure. It generally must be treated for the rest of the person's life. There are various topical and systemic options, but nothing usually will eliminate it. Also, for many people, phototherapy treatments can be a God-send. (For others, spending extra time outdoors will accomplish the same thing.)

What Can I Do To Help?
First, be kind to those who have. Don't act like they have leprosy (they don't) and don't make a big deal out of it if or when you see it. Second, participate in a research study - whether you have psoriasis or not. Research studies need control groups who don't have the disease too, so don't be shy. Help us out, please!

Posted in: Psoriasis

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