What is Plaque Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-term) non-contagious skin disease. The most common form of this disease is plaque psoriasis, where parts of the skin turn red and are covered with silvery scales. In some cases, these patches can be itchy.

As new skin grows up under the layers of old skin, the old skin is shed. However, this process is normally very slow and usually goes completely unnoticed. But in psoriasis, new skin grows much too quickly in some places, much faster than the old skin can be shed. As a result, the excess skin builds up and blood flow increases in an attempt to nourish it, causing thick red patches. Since the outer-most skin can’t receive blood, these cells die, giving them the appearance of silvery scales.

The most common sites for these patches are the scalp, the trunk of the body, and the arms and legs – especially the knees and elbows. However, psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body.

In about 50% of cases, psoriasis will affect the nails. People with nail psoriasis see changes like pitting or ridges. The nail may also pull away from the nail bed, or turn yellowish-orange.

Much like psoriasis, nail psoriasis can have a big impact on a person’s quality of life. In fact, in one survey, over half of the patients said their nail psoriasis was painful, and more than 90% said that the appearance of their nails caused cosmetic problems.

It’s also thought that nail psoriasis may be a sign of another condition called ‘psoriatic arthritis’. So, if you see changes in your nails, or if you notice any joint pain, be sure to tell your doctor.