What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects millions of Americans. It can affect how the skin looks and feels, and it may also impact someone’s daily life and confidence. Understanding psoriasis can help people spot symptoms early and explore ways to manage it effectively.

In this article:

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a condition that causes thick, scaly patches on someone’s skin. It happens when the immune system speeds up a process called skin cell turnover. Normally, new skin cells grow deep in the skin and slowly rise to the surface.

With psoriasis, this process happens too quickly, causing cells to build up on the skin. Psoriasis can be a long-term condition, and symptoms may come and go over time.

Psoriasis is not contagious, so it cannot be spread from person to person like chickenpox or a cold. Anyone can develop psoriasis, and it affects men and women equally. It’s more common in adults than in children. While it can develop at any age, it most often starts between ages 20 to 30 or 50 to 60.

Symptoms of psoriasis

Psoriasis symptoms can vary from person to person. People can experience flare-ups, which are periods of worsening symptoms followed by periods of improvement. While everyone’s experience is different, some common psoriasis symptoms include:

• Thick, scaly patches that may itch or burn
• Dry, cracked skin that may itch or bleed
• Thick, ridged, pitted nails
• Poor sleep quality

Psoriasis can look different depending on someone’s skin tone. With:

• Fair skin: Psoriasis tends to be red or pink, with silvery-white scales
• Medium-toned skin: Psoriasis can appear as salmon-colored patches with silvery-white scales
• Darker skin: Psoriasis can look dark brown, or violet with gray scales

Some people with psoriasis may also develop a related condition called psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can include:

• Neck or back pain
• Pain near the Achilles tendon
• Stiff, swollen or painful joints

Types of psoriasis

There are five main types of psoriasis. A person can have psoriasis on different parts of their body, and they can have more than one type at the same time.

Because psoriasis can take different forms, it can be helpful to understand its five main types:

• Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type of psoriasis. It appears as raised, red patches of skin covered with silvery-white scales. These patches often develop in a symmetrical pattern and commonly appear on the scalp, trunk and limbs, especially the elbows and knees.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis: This rare but severe type of psoriasis can cause red, scaly skin across most of the body. It can be triggered by severe sunburn or certain medications. It often develops in people with poorly controlled psoriasis.
• Guttate psoriasis: This type of psoriasis usually appears in children or young adults. It typically shows up on the torso or limbs as small, red spots. Outbreaks are often triggered by an upper respiratory infection, such as strep throat.
• Inverse psoriasis: This type of psoriasis appears as smooth, red patches in skin folds, such as under the breasts or in the groin or armpits. Rubbing and sweating can make symptoms worse.
• Pustular psoriasis: This type of psoriasis causes pus-filled bumps, called pustules, surrounded by red skin. It usually affects the hands and feet, but in some cases, it can cover most of the body. Its triggers can include certain chemicals, infections, medications or stress.

What can cause and trigger psoriasis?

Psoriasis is linked to both genetics and the immune system. Because certain genes can increase the risk of psoriasis, it often runs in families.

What can trigger psoriasis?

Many everyday factors can trigger psoriasis or cause flare-ups. These can include:

• Certain medications
• Cold, dry weather
• Heavy alcohol use
• Infections such as strep throat
• Skin injuries, like cuts or severe sunburns
• Stress
• Tobacco use

These triggers can affect people differently. For example, stress may cause flare-ups in one person, while cold weather may not.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

To diagnose psoriasis, a health care provider usually examines someone’s nails, scalp and skin for signs of the condition. They may also ask about their family history, health and medical history, including whether they:

• Have joint pain or swelling
• Have relatives with psoriasis
• Have symptoms like itching or burning
• Recently had an illness or experienced severe stress
• Take certain medications

This information helps determine whether it’s psoriasis and what type it may be. In some cases, the provider may examine a small skin sample under a microscope to rule out other conditions.

Treatment options for psoriasis

There is no single best treatment for psoriasis, and what works for one person may not work for another. Finding the right approach can take time, and people may need to try different treatments or combinations before finding what works best. A health care provider may recommend one treatment or a combination of treatments and adjust the plan as needed along the way.

A treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

Medication applied directly to the skin

Topical (applied to the skin) medications are the most common way to treat psoriasis. For people with mild psoriasis, they are often the only treatment needed. For more severe cases, topical medications may be used along with other treatments, such as light therapy or medications that work throughout the body.

Some topical treatment options include:

• Coal tar
• Roflumilast (cream or foam)
• Salicylic acid
• Tapinarof or tazarotene cream
• Topical corticosteroids
• Topical vitamin D analogues
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs)

Light therapy

Light therapy uses special light bulbs or lasers to treat psoriasis. It should always be done under a health care provider’s supervision. Using tanning beds or spending long periods in the sun as a version of light therapy are not recommended, because these can cause skin damage (such as sunburn) which may make psoriasis worse. Over time, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning beds can also increase the risk of skin cancer.

Medication that works throughout the body

Some people need stronger treatment for psoriasis, especially if it affects their joints. In these cases, medications that work throughout the body may be recommended. A health care provider may prescribe one or more of the following treatments:

• Apremilast, Icotrokinra or Sotyktu
• Biologics
• Cyclosporine
• Methotrexate
• Retinoid pills (acitretin)
• TYK2 inhibitors

Key takeaways

Psoriasis is a chronic, noncontagious immune disorder that causes thick, red, scaly patches and recurring flare-ups. Symptoms and triggers vary, and treatment may include topical medications, light therapy or systemic medications. Because psoriasis is linked to conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, heart disease and high blood pressure, early diagnosis and ongoing management are important.

This article is based on information available from established sources at the time of publication. It was last reviewed by a CVS clinician on August 5, 2026.