Types of Psoriasis Glossary of Terms

1. Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Slideshow
2. Psoriasis Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
3. How Much Is Psoriasis Affecting Your Life?

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Autoimmune disease: An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own i...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Bumps: The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from these injured b...

Capillaries: Capillaries are the smallest of blood vessels. They serve to distribute oxyge...

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Chronic disease: A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting...

Cutaneous: Related to the skin.

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, either due to direct contact with an irritating sub...

Dermatologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems...

Dermatology: 1. The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and...

Erythrodermic psoriasis: A particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects ...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fungal: Pertaining to a fungus. For example, a fungal skin infection.

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Guttate psoriasis: A type of psoriasis characterized by red, scaly plaques of inflamed ski...

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Inverse psoriasis: Also called flexural psoriasis, a form of psoriasis found in the armpit...

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Juvenile: Between infantile and adult. Used in medicine to indicate onset in childhood, as...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Lesion: An area of abnormal tissue change. Lesions vary in severity from harmless to serio...

Nail: In medicine, there are two types of nails. One is just a plain old metal nail used t...

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Onychomycosis: Fungus infection of the nail bed under the fingernails or toenails. Onychom...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Paronychia: Inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail due to infection or i...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Plaque: 1. An semi-hardened accumulation of substances from fluids that bathe an a...

Plaque psoriasis: The most common form of psoriasis -- about 80% of people with psoriasis ...

Psoriasis: A reddish, scaly rash often located over the surfaces of the elbows, knees, sca...

Psoriatic arthritis: Joint inflammation that is associated with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthr...

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

Pustular psoriasis: A type of recurring psoriasis characterized by the appearance of pus-...

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory system: The organs that are involved in breathing, including the nose, throat,...

Salicylic acid: A substance obtained from plants (white willow back and wintergreen leaves...

Scaling: Abnormal shedding or accumulation of an upper layer of skin (the stratum corneum)...

Seborrheic dermatitis: A medical name for what is popularly called seborrhea.

Strain: 1. An injury to a tendon or muscle resulting from overuse or trauma. 2. A heredita...

Strep: Very commonly used shortened form of Streptococcus, a very common and import...

Strep throat: Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called streptococc...

Subacute: Rather recent onset or somewhat rapid change. In contrast, acute indicates very ...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Sweat: A colorless transparent acidic fluid with a distinctive odor secreted by the small ...

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. For example, a topical agent is applied ...

Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease in people who are genetically predispose...

Vitamin D3: A vitamin produced by the body when exposed to ultraviolet light or obtained f...