Bothered by itchy, scaly skin? See a possible cause.

Bothered by itchy, scaly skin? See a possible cause.

Itchy, scaly skin with raised red patches are some of the symptoms of psoriasis (sow RYE uh sis), a chronic skin disease that affects more than 5 million adults in the United States. Psoriasis can be uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing, but there are many ways to treat it.

Find out about topical treatment and light therapy for psoriasis.

Learn about oral, injected or natural treatments for psoriasis.

The information on Psoriasis was developed for NIHSeniorHealth by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at NIH.