Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that creates red patches of skin with white, flaky scales. It most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees, trunk, and scalp but can appear anywhere on the body. Psoriasis affects as many as 7.5 million people in the United States.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition that will cycle through flare-ups and remissions throughout a patient’s life. It develops when a person’s immune system sends faulty signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly. New skin cells form in days rather than weeks. The body does not shed these excess skin cells. The skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin, causing patches of psoriasis to appear.
The first episode usually strikes between the ages of 15 and 35 although about 20,000 children under age 10 have been diagnosed with psoriasis.
You cannot get psoriasis from touching someone who has it. To get psoriasis, a person must inherit the genes that cause it.
AllSkin Dermatology specializes in psoriasis treatment with anti-inflammatory agents, Biologics, and the XTRAC® laser.