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Psoriasis
A common skin condition that affects around 2 % of the population, psoriasis involves skin cells replacing themselves too quickly and at a rate faster than skin cells are shed. This causes the skin cells to build up in these areas, producing red, scaly patches to appear on the affected area. A small number of people suffering from psoriasis also have what is known as psoriatic arthritis, which is an inflammation of the joints.
Though psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, there are many areas in which it is more common, such as the knees, elbows, scalp and genitals. It is not clear what causes the condition, but there are certain factors experts suspect could influence it, such as hereditary conditions, sunburn, skin injuries, stress, drinking too much alcohol, smoking and sore throats.
There are various ways of treating psoriasis, ranging from steroid treatments to skin softeners. There are also therapies involving ultraviolet B light which attempt to block the potential causes of psoriasis such as certain molecules.
Psoriasis is a serious condition that causes great distress to those who have it, often causing them to avoid the public through fear of how they look.
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