According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis. It is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in America. Statistically, chances are that someone you know has been diagnosed with psoriasis; but do you know just what it is?
The NPF defines psoriasis as a “chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells.” In the most common type of psoriasis, the rapid growth of skin cells results in patches of build-up called plaques, which can cause the affected skin to be itchy and or painful. While uncomfortable, psoriasis poses no fatal threat and is not contagious.
Winter conditions can worsen symptoms. Find answers to common questions, learn statistics, and discover details of symptoms, treatments and the different types of psoriasis.
