Psoriasis: information for patients and families

What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a common skin condition and can affect people of any age. It is not infectious, therefore you cannot catch it from another person. It is a genetic (inherited) condition which causes the skin cells to reproduce too quickly and to move up to the surface of the skin faster. This causes scaling (flaky skin).

It appears as red, raised, dry patches called plaques, which are usually covered with a silvery scale. These plaques can occur anywhere on the body and scalp. If the plaques are in the groin or nappy area or underarms they appear shiny and usually have little or no scale as friction and rubbing removes the scale. The plaques can be individual or joined together and may vary in size.

Some people find that psoriasis is very itchy, others do not have any itch.

Throat infections, emotional stress, trauma (such as cuts, wounds, piercings, tattoos) may cause a flare up