Psoriasis is a disease which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area including the scalp and genitals. Psoriasis is hypothesized to be immune-mediated and is not contagious.

The disorder is a chronic recurring condition which varies in severity from minor localised patches to complete body coverage. Fingernails and toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy). Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of th

The symptoms of psoriasis can manifest in a variety of forms. Variants include plaque, pustular, guttate and flexural psoriasis. This section describes each type Photograph of an arm covered with plaque psoriasis. Photograph of an arm covered with plaque psoriasis.

** Types of psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris) (L40.0) is the most common form of psoriasis. It affects 80 to 90% of people with psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis typically appears as raised areas of inflamed skin covered with silvery white scaly skin. These areas are called plaques.

Flexural psoriasis (inverse psoriasis) (L40.83-4) appears as smooth inflamed patches of skin. It occurs in skin folds, particularly around the genitals (between the thigh and groin), the armpits, under an ov

This is a question for anyone who has psoriasis and has taken Elavil: Do you think the Elavil in any way made your psoriasis worse? My doctor wants to prescribe Elavil for me, but I have a case of psoriasis that is sleeping right away, and I don't want to do anything to wake it up.

Answer:

A few years ago I decided to go on a weight loss diet. I figured that it would be a good idea to take a multi-vitamin. Then I started having this strange outbreak of small water blisters behind my ears. My hairdresser said it was psoriasis. I figured it might have been triggered by the diet, so I stopped. The psoriasis went away.

Then, about 6 months ago, I started taking a multi-vitamin again. Guess what? The psoriasis started up again!

Well, I'm a quick learner (LOL) so I went off the vitamins. The psoriasis promptly went away.

Assuming the vitamins were the culprit, I don't know how to tell just which vitamin or mineral supplement was the cause.