Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition which causes symptoms on the skin and sometimes the joints. When person has psoriasis, their skin replacement process speeds up, taking just a few days to replace skin cells which normally take 21-28 days. This abundance of cells builds up to form raised “plaques” on the skin which can be flaky, scaly and red on Caucasian skin, darker patches on darker skin, and itchy, on any part of the body.
Some people, but certainly not all, with psoriasis may also get psoriatic arthritis, which can cause painful inflammation of the joints.
There are many treatments for psoriasis. Like eczema, avoiding soaps and using moisturisers is important. Other treatments are often necessary and there are many of these.