Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. It is the rapid buildup of your skin cells that causes scaling on your skin’s surface. The reason behind it is a sped-up skin production process. Typically, skin cells that grow deep in your skin slowly rise to the surface and then fall off. In psoriasis, the production process occurs in just a few days.

As a result, the skin cells don’t get time to fall off. Common triggers in people who have a genetic predisposition to psoriasis are cuts or burns, infections, and certain medications. Psoriasis can be painful, interfere with sleep and make it hard for you to concentrate on your daily activities. It is a common, chronic disease with no cure, but treatments are available to help you manage its symptoms. You can also try good lifestyle habits and other coping strategies to help you live better with psoriasis. Today we are listing everything about psoriasis causes and symptoms included.

Psoriasis Causes and Symptoms:

Psoriasis Symptoms:

The symptoms of psoriasis vary depending on which type you have. However, some common signs and symptoms of psoriasis include:

• A patchy rash that varies a lot in how it looks from person to person, appearing red on light skin and brown or purple on dark skin. Also ranges from spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions over much of the body.

• Plaques of red skin that are covered with silver-colored scales. These plaques may be itchy and painful, and sometimes they also crack and bleed. In severe cases, the plaques grow and merge, covering large areas of the body.

• Small scaling spots that are commonly seen in children.

• Itching, burning, or soreness of dry and cracked skin.

• Disorders of the fingernails and toenails, including discoloration, and nails that are pitted, cracked, or crumbly. The nail can also get detached from the nail bed.

• Plaques of scales or crust that appear on the scalp. Basically, a scaly scalp.

• Cyclic rashes that flare for a few weeks or months and then suddenly subside. Most people with psoriasis experience “cycles” of symptoms. The condition may cause severe symptoms for a few days or weeks, and then clear up and be almost unnoticeable. Subsequently, in a few weeks or if worsened by a common psoriasis trigger, the condition may flare up again. Sometimes, symptoms of psoriasis can disappear completely.

• People with psoriasis can also develop a type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. It leads to painful and swollen joints.

Not every person is known to have all these symptoms. What needs to be remembered is that psoriasis causes and symptoms vary for different people. Some people will have entirely different symptoms if they have a less common type of psoriasis.

Psoriasis Causes:

Psoriasis is thought to be an immune system problem that results in the rapid growth of skin cells, faster than usual. However, no one knows the exact cause of psoriasis. Experts believe that it’s a combination of things, and both genetics and environmental factors play a role. Psoriasis tends to run in families, but it can skip generations. For instance, a grandfather and his grandson may be affected by the disorder, but not the child’s mother. It is not contagious either. Many people who are predisposed to psoriasis may not get any symptoms for years until the disease is triggered by some environmental factor.

Common things that can trigger an outbreak of psoriasis include:

• Infections, such as skin infections or strep throat

• Cuts, scrapes, severe sunburn, or surgery

• Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke

• Emotional stress

• Weather, specifically cold, dry conditions

• Heavy consumption of alcohol

• Certain kinds of medications

There might be no cure for psoriasis, but treatment can greatly reduce its symptoms, even in severe cases. We hope this information on psoriasis, its causes and symptoms make it easier for those with and without the condition to understand the disease better and help prevent its negative effects on the lives of people.