Psoriatic Arthritis: The inflammation of joints

Plaque Psoriasis: The most common, with symptoms of red raised areas and white flakes

Guttate Psoriasis: Small red spots on the skin

Pustular Psoriasis: White pustules surrounded by red skin

Inverse Psoriasis: Smooth red liaisons in the skin's fold

Erythrodermic Psoriasis: Widespread, with severe itching, pain and red abrasions

There are lots of theories about the cause of psoriasis. Some believe that psoriasis is a hereditary problem that is passed along through DNA. Others believe that psoriasis is caused by a portion of the immune system becoming overactive. Still others think it is an autoimmune disease. Some think that a psoriasis outbreak is triggered by stress. Most agree that those with exceptionally high IQs are much more likely to be afflicted with psoriasis. Benjamin Franklin suffered from psoriasis, and so did Albert Einstein.

At the present time there is no known cure for psoriasis, but the good news is that it isn't fatal. It is irritating, and it can be embarrassing, but it isn't fatal; and there are treatments for psoriasis that can help to put it into remission. People have had periods of remission that last from weeks to months to years.

The best advice about living with psoriasis as comfortably as possible is to follow your doctor's advice and directions to the letter and do NOT scratch the itchy places. When you scratch, you are helping to spread the outbreak to surrounding tissue. You can also break the skin and cause an infection to develop. So don't scratch and apply your meds as directed.