What are the Stats on Psoriasis? It is estimated that about 2.2 percent of American adults have been diagnosed with psoriasis, confirming that psoriasis is a common disease.1 11 percent of those diagnosed with psoriasis have also been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. This is a prevalence of 0.25 percent of American adults in the general population. Psoriasis prevalence in African Americans was 1.3 percent compared to 2.5 percent of Caucasians. The prevalence of psoriasis in Western populations is estimated to be around 2-3%. It affects both sexes equally and occurs at all ages. And What Causes Psoriasis? Several factors are thought to aggravate psoriasis. These include stress and excessive alcohol consumption. Individuals with psoriasis may also suffer from depression and loss of self-esteem. As such, quality of life is an important factor in evaluating the severity of the disease. There are many treatments available but because of its chronic recurrent nature psoriasis is a challenge to treat. Plaque Psoriasis About 80% of people living with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, which also is called “psoriasis vulgaris.” “Vulgaris” means “common.” How to recognize Plaque Psoriasis: 1. Raised and thickened patches of reddish skin, called “plaques,” which are covered by silvery-white scales. 2. Plaques most often appear on the elbows, knees, scalp, chest, and lower back. However, they can appear anywhere on the body, including the genitals. 3. Plaques vary in size and can appear as distinct patches or join together to cover a large area. In the early stages, the psoriasis may be unnoticeable. The skin may itch and/or a burning sensation may be present. Plaque psoriasis usually first appears as small red bumps. Bumps gradually enlarge, and scales form. While the top scales flake off easily and often, scales below the surface stick together. The small red bumps develop into plaques (reddish areas of raised and thickened skin). Now that you know abit more about psoriasis, we urge you to find out more about this!