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Of all skin rashes one could contract, one of the more undesirable is that of psoriasis. This chronic autoimmune disease causes the skin to thicken and turn red, leaving flaky, silver to white patches commonly known as skin scales. This is triggered by an accelerated growth of skin cells that rise up to the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin. The standard for skin cell growth is that they cultivate deep within the skin, usually ascending to the surface once every month. In the course of psoriasis, the immune system transmits out faulty signals that accelerate the growth cycle of skin cells to about two weeks instead of the healthy duration of four weeks. The dead skin cells rise to the top of the surface area on these red and white scaly, itchy and irritable scales.

The skin affliction will vary in severity, covering from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. It is generally graded as mild, having an effect on less than 3% of the body. Having more than three to ten percent of the body covered is considered moderate while anything beyond 10% is considered severe. In general, the condition turns severe for those who have a fragile immune system stemming from autoimmune disorders or chemotherapy. Up to a third of people with psoriasis may also suffer arthritis. This condition is called psoriasis arthritis, and what develops is one or more joints will become swollen and stiff resulting in great pain. When the fingers or toes are affected by psoriasis arthritis, sausage like swelling results due to the inflammation.

While psoriasis can come at any age, it normally strikes between the ages of fifteen to thirty five. It can arrive both slowly and suddenly. Where the condition appears often is on the fingernails and toenails, causing the nails to thicken and in the worst-case scenario breaking off the nails from their base. Additional segments of the body where psoriasis is prone to strike are on the genitals, trunk, knees, elbows, and the palms of both the hands and feet. On top of it all, it can also affect the scalp where it will lead to large amounts of dandruff to appear. Similarly to eczema, people can be affected by psoriasis in between long periods of time when the condition laid dormant within the body. As it has a high recurrence rate like skin hives, it is challenging to lastingly cure.

Thankfully the good news is that psoriasis is not contagious. While what exactly is the root cause of psoriasis is still not known, many doctors believe that there is a hereditary factor involved. Additional factors that could play a part in aggravating the condition are bacteria, viral and upper respiratory infections, injury to the skin including cuts, burns, and insect bites, and some medicines that include antimalarial drugs, beta-blockers, and lithium.

Effective treatment entails preventing further infections while controlling the symptoms that are currently in place. Generally, mild psoriasis cases can be efficiently dealt with using topical agents such as creams and lotions. Moderate levels call for phototherapy, while severe cases affecting the entire body are recommended to be treated with systemic agents such as pills or injections.