Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder characterized by the presence of red, scaling lesions. It occurs on any and all areas of the body but usually affects primarily and most markedly the scalp, elbows, and knees. The disorder rarely begins before the individual is ten or twelve years old. It is recurrent, not uncommonly lasting throughout life. It tends to improve or even clear up entirely in warm weather, making its appearance again in the cool of the autumn and remaining until the warm of the spring.
The disorder is usually without subjective symptoms. The lesions vary in size from that of a drop of water to that of a platter or larger. Characteristically, each lesion is covered with silvery white or mother-of-pearl colored scales. The scales lie in layers very much like the shingles on a roof. When the bottom-most scale is removed, a bleeding point is left. This characteristic is not found in other scaling disorders.
Psoriasis interferes in no way with the general health, it being a disease of the healthy. The lesions are rather unsightly, but they rarely occur on the exposed surfaces. Upon clearing, no scarring remains.
The cause of psoriasis is not known although there are many theories with regard to it. Often it is aggravated by the eating of foods that come from animals, notably meat, eggs, and cheese. Although it is not uncommonly seen in more than one member of a family, it is not considered a hereditary disorder, nor a contagious of infectious one. It can be cleared up by the use of internal medicines and local preparations, but improvement is usually only temporary. Some find that they have a minimum of trouble if they love in a mild climate.
by Clark W. Finnerud
Common Skin Diseases of Children
