Skin and hair

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition driven by dysregulated interaction between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Immune cells release cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-17, and IL-23, that drive skin cells to multiply far faster than normal, producing the thick, scaled plaques characteristic of the condition.

Psoriasis affects an estimated 2 to 4 percent of the population, roughly 125 million people worldwide, and can appear at any age, though it most often first appears in early adulthood.

Common signs

Raised, thickened patches of skin (plaques) often topped with silvery or whitish scale, most often on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back, sometimes appearing red, pink, purple, or darker depending on skin tone. The patches may itch, burn, or sting, and nails and skin folds can be involved too, with pitted nails and cracking in the armpits and groin.

This is a plain-language summary for orientation, not a diagnosis. Mechanisms are described as current understanding, not settled fact. Work with your own clinician for your care.

Where this comes from

Peer-reviewed researchPathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, and Treatment of Psoriasis: A ReviewPubMed, 2020 ↗

Questions people ask

Is psoriasis contagious?+

The page describes psoriasis as a condition driven by dysregulated interaction between the innate and adaptive immune systems, where immune cells release cytokines that cause skin cells to multiply too quickly. It does not address whether psoriasis can be passed from person to person. For a clear answer on that question, ask a dermatologist or your primary care clinician.

What causes psoriasis?+

Psoriasis develops when the innate and adaptive immune systems interact in a dysregulated way. Immune cells release cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-17, and IL-23, and these signal skin cells to multiply far faster than normal. That overproduction builds into the thick, scaled plaques that define the condition.

What does psoriasis look like on the skin?+

Psoriasis typically appears as raised, thickened patches topped with silvery or whitish scale, most often on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. These patches can look red, pink, purple, or darker depending on skin tone, and they may itch, burn, or sting. Psoriasis can also affect the nails and skin folds, causing pitted nails and cracking in the armpits and groin.

In a doctor’s words

“The idea of clear skin for patients with psoriasis, which once was not really an achievable goal, is now something we can talk about as a possibility.”

David C. Reid, MD, dermatologist, Rush University Medical Center
Read more at Rush University Medical Center ↗

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Articles from Daniela

Daniela Hess, MSEd, is a co-founder of Great Energy and an Autoimmune Educator and Functional Wellness Consultant who lives and thrives with Hashimoto’s. She is not a licensed medical provider.

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