Psoriasis is a common skin condition that affects 7.5 million people in the United States. It occurs when a person’s immune system goes on the fritz and it sends signals that tell skin cells to grow too fast. The new cells form in days instead of weeks. This causes them to pile up and creates patches of psoriasis.

Anyone can develop psoriasis but there is often a hereditary component to it. It occurs most often between the ages of 15 and 30 and between the ages of 50 and 60. It is often precipitated by certain triggers. These include: an infection such as strep throat, a stressful event, medications such as lithium or those that help prevent malaria, cold and dry weather and a cut, scratch or bad sunburn.

What you may not know is that there are many different types of psoriasis. The majority of people get plaque psoriasis. These are raised red plaques on the skin with silvery white patches. The fingernails develop pits.

The other types of psoriasis include:
Guttate psoriasis: small red dots scattered over the body
Pustular psoriasis: pus filled bumps that can cause the patient to feel sick
Inverse psoriasis: Raw red patches on the skin
Erythrodermic psoriasis: Red skin that looks burned and can be painful and intensely itchy.

Thirty percent of patients with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. As with psoriasis there are different types of arthritis. They can range from mild, moderate to severe.

Four things you may not know:

1. In 15% of patients, the joint problems may show up before the skin changes.

2. It is often difficult to diagnose psoriatic arthritis. It may occur in a joint after an injury,
and look more like a cartilage tear.

3. There may be pain without swelling

4. Often patients will develop swollen fingers that look like sausages.

What many people may not realize is that those with psoriasis are 58% more likely to have a heart attack and 43% more likely to have a stroke. They are also 46% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and are at high risk for cancers, obesity and depression.

Treating psoriasis can reduce the inflammation and alter these risks.

For the skin, there is light therapy and steroid ointments. For psoriatic arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are used initially. For severe disease drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis such as Enbrel and Remicade are often used.

There is no cure for psoriasis, but with combination therapies it can be controlled. More importantly the risks for other diseases can be reduced by seeking help early and getting the treatment that is best for the degree of disease you may have.