Psoriasis is not contagious. No one can "catch" it from you. For some, it is a minor skin irritation, but for others, psoriasis can be painful and potentially disabling. Some people who have psoriasis experience periods where the psoriasis completely clears (remissions). Others often say that their psoriasis occurs in a cyclical pattern. For example, their psoriasis may be better in the summer and worse in the winter.

Why am I feeling this way?

You may also feel angry that psoriasis isn't well understood by others. People may think it is only a cosmetic condition, when in fact it can have not only serious physical symptoms but also lead to low self-esteem and depression. This misunderstanding can make social interactions difficult.

In order to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it is important to learn about your condition, to seek support from others and to treat it. Early treatment for psoriatic arthritis, for example, can prevent your joints from becoming more painful. The diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis may be troubling and shocking, but it can help you to take control of your disease.

What causes psoriasis?

What causes psoriatic arthritis?

What treatments are available?

If your psoriasis is mild or moderate, your physician probably will give you topical treatments first. Topical treatments are ointments, gels or lotions that may contain steroids or coal tar. Steroids are man-made drugs that are created to resemble hormones (cortisone, for example) that occur naturally in the body. Coal tar has been used for centuries to treat the scaling, inflammation and itching of psoriasis. You may need to experiment with numerous therapies before you find the treatment that works well for you.

If your psoriasis is moderate to severe, your physician may administer ultraviolet (UVB) light treatment. UVB light treatment involves exposing the skin to a particular wavelength of light. It is a common, safe and very effective treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis.

If your psoriasis doesn't clear after using topical or ultraviolet light treatments, the physician may prescribe systemic medications. They are called "systemic" because they work throughout the body to treat psoriasis, instead of only on top of the skin. They include the prescription drugs methotrexate, cyclosporine and oral retinoids.

If you've been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, your physician may give you aspirin, ibuprofen or prescription drugs. These drugs are all called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Their main purpose is to decrease inflammation, joint pain and stiffness. If you already have some joint or tissue damage, your doctor may give you disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These drugs can help to slow or stop joint and tissue damage.

A new category of drugs is called "biologics." These turn off or block certain processes within the immune system that lead to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Amevive and Raptiva were approved for psoriasis treatment in 2003. Enbrel is approved for both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Remicade (generic name infliximab) and Humira (generic name adalimumab) are also in development for psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. Your physician may prescribe a biologic if other treatments do not work on your psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Is there hope that a cure will be found?

What should I do next?