• Psoriasis (Latin psoriasis vulgaris, known as plaque psoriasis) is a chronic non-infectious inflammatory condition that tends to recur.
  • Its development is largely influenced by genetic predisposition and autoimmune mechanisms.
  • This condition affects approximately 2-4% of the population in Western countries.
  • It typically first appears in the third decade of life, although this is not always the case.

How does psoriasis develop?

In psoriasis, the immune system becomes excessively activated, accelerating cell division in the skin. The life cycle of healthy skin cells typically lasts about a month. However, skin cells affected by psoriasis complete this cycle in just 3-4 days, leading to an accumulation of skin cells on the surface.

The exact mechanism of the disease's development is not precisely known. However, we know that it is fundamentally based on chronic inflammation, which leads to uncontrolled division of keratinocytes (skin cells) and disruption of their maturation.

Chronic inflammation, in turn, arises from disruptions in both innate and acquired immune responses in the skin. Many factors can disrupt these responses, but currently, the influence of the skin microbiome is gaining prominence.

**IMPORTANT: As you may have understood, psoriasis is a result of an error in the immune system, so it is not an infectious disease that can be transmitted from person to person. **

How do you recognize the disease?

The visible result is characterized by typical psoriatic lesions of dry and finely raised skin covered with silvery scales.

The most common areas of occurrence are:

  • Scalp
  • Elbows
  • Knees
  • Sacral-coccygeal region
  • Trunk
  • Skin folds

Lesions appear bilaterally, and the nail area is often affected as well. Psoriasis symptoms can also appear on the joints, known as psoriatic arthritis.

The described lesions above are characteristic of this condition, but how the disease manifests may vary slightly in each individual.

**If you suspect you may have psoriasis, do not hesitate to visit a dermatologist. **

What are the triggers of psoriasis?

Symptoms of psoriasis can be triggered by factors that alter the immune system and induce symptoms. The most common triggers include:

  • Stress
  • Skin injuries (scratching, sunburn, insect bites, vaccination)
  • Infections
  • Cold weather

**Some factors alleviate the symptoms of the disease. These include sunlight, warm weather, and pregnancy. **

Associated complications

Psoriasis most commonly manifests on the skin, but it is a systemic (whole-body) inflammation that frequently affects other organs too. Inflammation is not localized only to the skin. Therefore, in the case of psoriasis, we refer to it as systemic inflammation.

Patients with psoriasis have a higher incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery diseases. Therefore, we generally speak of an increased cardiovascular risk.

Up to 40% of patients with psoriasis also have joint inflammation, known as psoriatic arthritis. Patients are at a higher risk of chronic kidney and gastrointestinal diseases. Finally, psoriasis has a profound impact not only on physical but also on psychological health.