what is psoriasis signs and symptoms of psoriasis

What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid build-
up of skin cells. This build-up of cells causes scaling on the skin’s
surface. Inflammation and redness around the scales is fairly common.
Typical psoriatic scales are whitish-silver and develop in thick, red
patches. Sometimes, these patches will crack and bleed.
Psoriasis is the result of a sped-up skin production process. Typically,
skin cells grow deep in the skin and slowly rise to the surface.
Eventually, they fall off. The typical life cycle of a skin cell is one
month.
In people with psoriasis, this production process may occur in just a few
days. Because of this, skin cells don’t have time to fall off. This rapid,
overproduction leads to the build-up of skin cells.
Scales typically develop on joints, such elbows and knees. They may
develop anywhere on the body, including the hands, feet, neck, scalp,
and face. Less common types of psoriasis affect the nails, the mouth, and
the area around genitals.
Psoriasis affects about7.5 million americansIt’s commonly associated
with several other conditions, including type 2 diabetes, inflammatory
bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, and psoriatic arthritis.
What are the different types of psoriasis?
The 5 types of psoriasis and most common symptoms include:
Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type of psoriasis — about
80 percent of people with the condition have plaque psoriasis. It causes
red, inflamed patches that cover areas of the skin. These patches are
often covered with whitish-silver scales or plaques. These plaques are
commonly found on the elbows, knees, and scalp.
Guttate psoriasis: Guttate psoriasis is common in childhood. This type
of psoriasis causes small pink spots. The most common sites for guttate
psoriasis include the torso, arms, and legs. These spots are rarely thick or
raised like plaque psoriasis.
Pustular psoriasis: Pustular psoriasis is more common in adults. It
causes white, pus-filled blisters and broad areas of red, inflamed skin.
Pustular psoriasis is typically localized to smaller areas of the body, such
as the hands or feet, but it can be widespread.
Inverse psoriasis: Inverse psoriasis causes bright areas of red, shiny,
inflamed skin. Patches of inverse psoriasis develop under armpits or
breasts, in the groin, or around skinfolds in the genitals.
Erythrodermic psoriasis: This type of psoriasis often covers large
sections of the body at once and is very rare. The skin almost appears
sunburned. Scales that develop often slough off in large sections or
sheets. It’s not uncommon for a person with this type of psoriasis to run
a fever or become very ill.
What are the symptoms?
Psoriasis symptoms differ from person to person and depend on the type
of psoriasis. Areas of psoriasis can be as small as a few flakes on the
scalp or elbow, or cover the majority of the body.
The most common symptoms of plaque psoriasis include:
 red, raised, inflamed patches of skin
 silver-white scales or plaques on the red patches
 dry skin that may crack and bleed
 soreness around patches
 itching and burning sensations around patches
 thick, pitted nails
 painful, swollen joints
https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/types/guttate
https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/types/pustular
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/multimedia/psoriasis-pictures/sls-20076486?s=8
Not every person will experience all of these symptoms. Some people
will experience entirely different symptoms if they have a less common
type of psoriasis.
Most people with psoriasis go through “cycles” of symptoms. The
condition may cause severe symptoms for a few days or weeks, and then
the symptoms may clear up and be almost unnoticeable. Then, in a few
weeks or if made worse by a common psoriasis trigger, the condition
may flare up again. Sometimes, symptoms of psoriasis disappear
completely.
When you have no active signs of the condition, you may be in
“remission.” That doesn’t mean psoriasis won’t come back, but for now
you are symptom free.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis isn’t contagious. You can’t pass the skin condition from one
person to another. Touching a psoriatic lesion on another person won’t
cause you to develop the condition.
What causes psoriasis?
Scientists are unclear as to what causes psoriasis. However, thanks to
decades of research, they have a general idea of two key factors:
genetics and the immune system.
Immune system
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions are the
result of the body attacking itself. In the case of psoriasis, white blood
cells known as T cells attack the skin cells mistakenly.
In a typical body, white blood cells are deployed to attack and destroy
invading bacteria and fight infections. The mistaken attack causes the
skin cell production process to go into overdrive. The sped-up skin cell
production causes new skin cells to develop too quickly. They are
pushed to the skin’s surface, where they pile up.
This results in the plaques that are most commonly associated with
psoriasis. The attacks on the skin cells also cause red, inflamed areas of
skin to develop.
Genetics
Some people inherit...