Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are sometimes considered together as psoriatic disease.

Who is at risk for psoriasis?
Anyone can get psoriasis. It occurs mostly in adults, but children can also get it. Men and women seem to have equal risk. Psoriasis is not contagious.

What causes psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that part of the body’s own immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissues in the body.

How is psoriasis diagnosed and treated?
Psoriasis often has a typical appearance that a primary care doctor can recognize, but it can be confused with other skin diseases (like eczema), so a dermatologist (skin doctor) is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriasis usually depends on the extent of disease or its severity or location (especially the face). Treatments range from creams and ointments applied to the affected areas to ultraviolet light therapy to treatment with drugs (such as methotrexate). Psoriasis may be associated with serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. 

Psoriatic arthritis can be difficult to distinguish from other types of arthritis, so a rheumatologist (arthritis doctor) is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis usually involves treatment with drugs (such as methotrexate).