Psoriasis is a persistent and chronic skin
disease which has a tendency to be genetically inherited.
The
word comes from ancient Greece, and means "to itch". Red
eruptions appear on the surface of the skin and begin to
itch. These areas form plaques over the reddened lesions.
The plaques resemble multi-layered scales of skin. Psoriasis
varies in intensity from a few random spots to a massive
outbreak covering the entire body and requiring
hospitalization. In some cases, psoriasis is so mild that
people don't know they have it. At the opposite extreme,
severe psoriasis may cover large areas of the body.
Psoriasis cannot be passed from one person to another,
though it is more likely to occur in people whose family
members have it.
