FAQ / Resources - Psoriasis Psoriasis is a persistent skin disorder in which there are red, thickened areas with silvery scales, most often on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Some cases of psoriasis are so mild that people don't know they have it. Severe psoriasis may cover large areas of the body. Dermatologists can help even the most severe cases Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another, but it is most likely to occure in members of the same family. In the United States, two out of every hundred people have psoriasis (four to five million people). There are approximately 150,000 new cases that occur each year.		Did You Know?       Did you know that Psoriasis begins when the immune system drives an inflammatory process on the skin that leads to formation of dry patches on the skin? Normally, it takes about a month for skin cells to mature and shed. But in skin that is affected by psoriasis, cells develop in just 3 or 4 days which causes the cells to pile up and form red lesions covered by silvery scale.               "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."