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Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red scaly patches. The patches are inflammed skin tissue due to excessive skin cell production. When these patches first begin to form on a person's skin they are silvery white and then turn red as inflammation increases. Dermatologists refer to the scaly patches as psoriatic plaques. Psoriatic plaques can form anywhere on the body, but are most common on the arms, legs, scalp, and genitals.

Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. Most experts believe that people have a genetic predisposition to developing it, especially when experiencing physical or emotional stress. Unfortunately, the development of psoriasis can cause a person to experience additional stress. Many psoriasis patients have reported that the disease affects the quality of their lives due to developing low self esteem, depression, and social anxiety.

Psoriasis is not a curable skin condition. It can be treated with topical creams, UV (ultraviolet) light therapy, and biologic or immunosuppressant drugs. Psoriasis does not affect the reproductive system, but it is not recommended that pregnant or nursing mothers use immunosuppressants therapy. Nursing mothers also should not apply topical cream to their nipples.

The National Psoriasis Foundation recognizes five types of this disease: Plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic.

Most of the people who are diagnosed with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis. The psoriatic plaques caused by this type often turn in to painful lesions.

Guttate psoriasis causes red tear drop shaped spots on the skin. The lesions usually appear on the torso. Children and young adults often develop guttate psoriasis when they have strep throat or tonsillitis. Oatmeal based moisturizers like Aveeno are considered to be the best treatment for this form of psoriasis.

Inverse psoriasis is commonly seen in morbidly obese individuals. It develops in deep skin folds, particularly the armpits, genitals, buttocks, and underneath the breasts. The lesions are smooth and may appear shiny. Topical steroid creams are the best treatment for this disease.

Pustular psoriasis causes red blisters that are filled with noninfected pus. It is usually situated on the hands or feet, but can be found anywhere on the body. Once the blisters pop the lesions turn scaly. There are three subtypes of pustular psoriasis. They are Von Zumbusch psoriasis (which can affect any part of the body), palmo-plantar pustulosis (which affects only the palms of the hands and

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