Psoriasis is a skin disease that affects 2% of the UK population. Psoriasis affects people in many different ways. Some just have dryness of elbows. Others can be covered in large areas called plaques. Some patients simply have scaling in their ears, scalp or just brittle nails. The most common type is call chronic plaque psoriasis. The areas of skin referred to as plaques are usually well defined with silver scale of skin overlying a red area. Other types include inverse, guttate, erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis.
Sometimes the plaques can be itchy or sore. It can start at any age, but most often develops in adults under 35 years old. The severity of psoriasis varies but this does not necessarily reflect the effect on the persons quality of life. Psoriasis waxes and wanes usually with long periods when you have no symptoms or mild symptoms, followed by periods when symptoms are more severe.