Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that impacts the body externally and internally, revealing itself in multiple organs including the skin, heart, muscles and bones.
Externally, the skin cells reproduce 7 times faster than normal skin, causing the skin to be thicker than normal. It is most easily recognized by red plaques with silvery scales. These plaques bleed easily when the scaling is scratched or picked off. Often these are on the arms, legs, hands, feet, elbows and knees.
Additionally, there is a long-term inflammation in the skin along with a mildly disrupted skin barrier which can often lead to chronic infection.