What is Psoriasis? and How Does it Effect You

Featuring Dr. Jan Peter Dank, MD, Dermatologist

Video Title} What is Psoriasis? and How Does it Effect You Duration: 2 minutes, 16 Psoriasis in the skin most commonly manifests itself as a thickened area of skin that’s red or purple. On its surface, it often has thick white adherent scale. It can itch or burn, and sometimes there’s no symptom in it. To risk a cliché, psoriasis is more than skin deep.
A quarter of people with psoriasis are going to go on to develop an inflammatory arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. More recently recognized is that psoriasis that is more serious is also a major risk factor for vascular disease that can lead to a heart attack or stroke, much in the way that diabetes and metabolic syndrome increase those risks.  

There are many types of psoriasis. The most common type is known as plaque psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris. Patients with this condition usually have large areas of psoriasis, typically on the knees, elbows, buttocks, backs and other extensor surfaces of the body. 

The next most common type of psoriasis is called guttate psoriasis. Guttate means raindrop, and it appears as little round patches and plaques of psoriasis scattered all over the body. Inverse psoriasis affects the folds of the body, the armpits, body folds under breasts, in the groin, the genitals, between the cracks of the buttocks. It also tends to affect the scalp.  

There are forms of psoriasis that only affect the palms and the souls of the feet.  These tend to be quite painful on the palms and souls of the feet and may or may not have other types of psoriasis elsewhere on the body. 

All forms of psoriasis can be associated with thickening of the nails, and frequently people mistake these thickened nails from psoriasis as fungal infections of the nail. There are also, fortunately, very rare forms of psoriasis called pustular psoriasis and erythrodermic psoriasis that are so serious and severe that people can land in the hospital.  

If you have more questions or think you may have psoriasis, please see your primary care physician or a dermatology specialist to get more information and treatment. 

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Video produced in association with Dr. Jan Peter Dank, MD, Dermatologist, Bellingham, Washington

Presenter: Dr. Jan Peter Dank, Dermatologist, Bellingham, WA

Local Practitioners: Dermatologist