What is psoriasis?

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that occurs when your body makes new skin cells faster than they slough off, or die. As a result, cells build up on the surface of your skin. Your skin develops thick, itchy, pink or red skin patches with white or silvery scales. This condition (called plaque psoriasis) may look unsightly, but it isn’t a threat to your health.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis, but it’s much more serious than many other subtypes. The plaques can cover almost your entire body, potentially leading to life-threatening problems.