Psoriasis is a condition of the skin in which the life cycle of skin cells to accelerate. The condition causes the skin cells to build up on the surface of the skin very rapidly. As a result, the extra skin cells begin forming scales and red patches. These red patches cause itching and can be quite painful as well. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can occur at any time and then suddenly go away.

When it comes to treating the disease, it is important to get treatment that stops the skin cells from growing too quickly. While there is no cure for this disease the symptoms can be manageable. In order to best manage this disease, individuals will need to moisturize their skin on a regular basis, quit smoking and manage stress. There are a number of common symptoms of psoriasis which vary among those who have the disease:

• Scaly skin: One of the most common symptoms is red patches of skin that are covered with scales that are either red or silver in color.
• Spots: Another symptom of the disease is small scaling spots that are most common among children.
• Cracked, bleeding skin: Other symptoms include dry cracked skin that bleeds, itching, burning and soreness. The disease also results in thickened or ridged nails and joints that are either swollen or stiff.

Psoriasis has a number of different types, each with their unique symptoms and duration of flareup:

1. Plaque psoriasis
This is the most common type of the disease. The cause of this particular type of the disease is caused by dry and raised red skin lesions. They are usually covered by silver scales which are often itchy. With this type of the disease, the scales can either be painful or itchy and the amount can vary. They can be located on any part of the body as well which include the inside of the mouth and a person’s genitals.

2. Nail psoriasis
When people get this type of the disease, their nails are affected. The effects of this condition include pitting and abnormal nail growth. There is also some discoloration of the nails as well. The nails may also loosen and get separated from the finger or toe. In the most severe cases, the nails may crumble and fall apart.

3. Guttate psoriasis
This type of the disease is most common among children and young adults. When a person suffers from this type of the disease, they will often experience the development of small scaling on the arms, legs and scalp. The water drop shaped scales may also occur on a person’s scalp as well. The cause of this condition is a bacterial infection which may include strep throat.

4. Inverse psoriasis
The skin of the armpits, groin, genitals and under the breasts are affected. Symptoms of this condition include inflamed skin and red patches. The inflammation of the skin can worsen from sweating and friction against the affected area. This type of the disease is caused by fungal infections.

5. Pustular psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is among the most uncommon type of the disease. When it does occur, a person will have patches on their hands, feet and fingertips. Sufferers will have blisters that develop shortly after the skin gets red and tender. The blisters will surface and go away frequently. There are other symptoms that include chills, fever, itching and diarrhea.

6. Erythrodermic psoriasis
This is the least common type of the disease. It covers the entire body with a red rash that peels regularly. When a person has this condition, they also experience an intense itch and burn on a regular basis.

7. Psoriatic arthritis
This condition results in inflamed scaly skin which also results in the swelling of joints. A person can experience pain and discomfort in any joint. While this type of arthritis won’t cripple a person, it often results in stiffness of the joints as well as damage to the joints. In the most severe cases, a person can experience a deformity.