Psoriasis

Psoriatic lesions are red, inflamed, silvery-white scaly, and circumscribed papules and plaques; often affecting elbows, knees, extensor limbs, and scalp, and, less commonly, nails, ear, and umbilical region.

Typically lifelong, with a fluctuating course of exacerbations and remission of lesions, which may be aggravated by genetic, infectious, emotional, and environmental factors.

Diagnosis is usually clinical.

Mild or limited psoriasis is treated with topical corticosteroids and/or vitamin D analogs.

Moderate to severe and/or extensive psoriasis may require phototherapy, and systemic agents such as oral retinoids, methotrexate, biologic agents, cyclosporine, or apremilast.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous, circumscribed scaly papules and plaques. It can cause itching, irritation, burning, and stinging in half the cases. Although the classification typically includes psoriatic arthritis, skin manifestations only are discussed in this topic.