What Is 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?

Alcoholism: Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would b...

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

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

Cardiovascular: Relating to the circulatory system, which comprises the heart and blood ve...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

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

Cutaneous: Related to the skin.

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...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Elbow: The juncture of the long bones in the middle portion of the upper extremity. The bo...

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

Flare: 1. an exacerbation of a chronic disease. Sometimes referred to as a flare-up, a fla...

Genes: The basic biological units of heredity. Segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nee...

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

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 ...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

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

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

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

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-...

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

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

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

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

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

White blood cell: One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. There are seve...