Psoriasis

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Psoriasis is a dry, scaly skin condition in which skin cells are reproduced too quickly. It affects approximately 2% of people in the UK. It can start at any age, but most often develops between 11 and 45 years old, often at puberty. It is much less common in childhood than other skin conditions such as eczema but rarely, it does develop before the age of ten years.

Normally skin cells take about 21-28 days to replace themselves, in psoriasis they take around 2-6 days. Normally there is a constant shedding of dead cells; however in psoriasis because of the acceleration of the replacement process, both dead and live cells accumulate on the skin surface. Often this causes red, flaky, crusty patches covered with silvery scales, which are shed easily. It can occur on any part of the body although it is most commonly found on the elbows, knees, lower back and the scalp. It can also cause intense itching and burning.

The condition is not contagious and most people have only small patches of their body affected. The severity varies greatly. Symptoms often come and go without treatment. However a few people with psoriasis have a more severe form that requires intensive medical and nursing care.

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