If you are familiar with psoriasis, you know that it's an autoimmune disease and skin condition that typically takes the form of thick, silvery scales or dry, red, sometimes itchy patches on the skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, psoriasis occurs when the life cycle of skin cells is sped up, creating a buildup of rough, dead skin cells.
While psoriasis isn't contagious and incredibly common, it is a genetic immune disorder. The triggers vary from person to person—which means the onset of symptoms can come from stress, weather (especially dry weather), smoking, drinking alcohol, or existing infections.
Luckily, psoriasis is a common disease, and treatments are widely available.