Psoriasis affects your skin cells by building up and causing itchy, scaly, red patches. It is a skin disease, which is very common. It can, at times, be painful. It is a recurring skin disease that flares and calms. The scales are silver in color. The skin may crack and blood may appear. For most people, other than being bothersome and ugly, it rarely causes a problem. If severe and combined with an arthritic type condition, your joints will suffer and become stiff with noted swelling. This will take its toll on the psoriasis sufferer and cause disability. Psoriasis can also appear in the scalp area and nails. Other types of psoriasis are also known.

Certain aspects will cause a sufferer to become under attack. These conditions are: Stress, weather changes, alcohol, smoking, infection or injury, and medications. If your family has a history of psoriasis, chances are that you will get it too. Being overweight, stress, a compromised immune system, smoking can also increase your chances of contracting psoriasis.

Psoriasis tends to develop in persons with a compromised immune system. The T cells are responsible for this action due to confusion and inadvertently attack healthy cells. A diagnosis of psoriasis is generally made upon visual inspection. Occasionally, a skin biopsy is also needed to determine the type of psoriasis you have or to rule out other possible skin conditions.

Treatment for psoriasis is given by applying a cortisone cream that can be purchased over-the-counter. Seeing your physician for psoriasis is not necessary unless you have additional symptoms, such as difficulty in doing things that you would normally do because of it or a worsening condition. You also may need to seek a physicians advice the cortisone cream is not effective.

Your doctor may be able to treat you with a different medication or a combination of medications to help you manage your psoriasis. These medications would include the use of vitamins, retinoids or corticosteroids that are applied topically to the skin, coal tar or other such treatments. In addition, some people with psoriasis are helped the use of phototherapy.

Self-help measures in addition to applying an over-the-counter cortisone cream topically are keeping your skin clean and well moisturized, getting sunlight on your skin to promote the healing of the lesions, and avoidance of alcohol.

Dealing with the disturbances of your skin condition can cause anxiety to take place. If your psoriasis is distressful to you there are support groups that address this condition and help you seek out others that are going through the same thing that you are.