Significance

If you have psoriasis, your immune system speeds up the growth cycle of your skin cells.

Triggers

Factors called triggers either start your psoriasis or make it worse. Triggers can include stress, cold weather, injury to your skin, infections, smoking and medications like lithium, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Plaque

According to the Mayo Clinic, plaque is the most common type of psoriasis and causes raised, dry, red skin lesions that are covered with slivery scales.

Symptoms

Plaque psoriasis occurs anywhere on your body including your genitals and mouth. However, according to the NPF, plaque psoriasis is normally found on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back.

Treatment

Treatment for plaque psoriasis, according to the Mayo Clinic, is to interrupt the overproduction of your skin cells and remove the scales and smooth your skin. So your doctor may prescribe topical treatments like corticosteroid ointments to treat mild to moderate psoriasis. Light therapy, such as ultraviolet B (UVB), is another treatment that causes the T cells in your skin to die, according to the Mayo Clinic. Oral medications like methotrexate also reduce the growth of skin cells.

Source:

The Mayo Clinic: Psoriasis

National Psoriasis Foundation: Types of Psoriasis