Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by well-demarcated, red-pink scaling plaques. It most commonly affects the scalp, elbows, and knees, but any part of the body can be affected, including the fingernails. Approximately 2-3% of the US population will develop psoriasis. It most commonly starts in early adulthood but can occur at any age. Once psoriasis develops, most people have it their entire lives, as it cannot be cured. Although many people only have a limited amount of psoriasis and require only topical creams and ointments to control it, some are more severely affected with itching, pain, flaking, and cracking of the lesions or have large areas of their body affected with the lesions. Patients with more severe disease sometimes need treatment by a dermatologist with ultraviolet light therapy, oral medications, or injectable medications to control symptoms.
