Cyndi Lauper for the National Psoriasis Foundation
MoreToPsoriasis.com · More From Cyndi
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin.
It typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, though it can appear on any location. Some people report that psoriasis is itchy, burns and stings. Psoriasis is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.
If you develop a rash that doesn’t go away with an over-the-counter medication, you should consider contacting your doctor.
While scientists do not know what exactly causes psoriasis, we do know that the immune system and genetics play major roles in its development. Usually, something triggers psoriasis to flare. The skin cells in people with psoriasis grow at an abnormally fast rate, which causes the buildup of psoriasis lesions.
Psoriasis often develops between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can develop at any age. About 10 to 15 percent of those with psoriasis get it before age 10.
Psoriasis is not contagious –it is not something you can “catch” or that others can catch from you. Psoriasis lesions are not infectious.
Psoriasis is a deeply personal condition that doesn’t just affect your skin, it can affect your life. That’s why Novartis is committed to finding new ways to support you, starting with MoreToPsOriasis.com —a place where you can talk openly about what it’s really like to live with your condition, so others can begin to understand.
Help spread the reality by sharing your personal psoriasis experience. And don’t miss That’s PsO My Reality—a special docu-series that follows real people like you as they take on the challenges of managing psoriasis each day.