How Severe Can Psoriasis Get?
Psoriasis is defined as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how much of the skin is affected. • Mild psoriasis affects less than 2 percent of the skin. • Moderate psoriasis affects 2 percent to 10 percent of the skin. • Severe psoriasis affects more than 10 percent of the skin. As a general rule, the palm of one hand is roughly equal to one percent of the skin. What Is Psoriatic Arthritis? In about one out of every 10 people with psoriasis, the disease causes pain and swelling in the joints. This is called psoriatic arthritis. This condition tends to wax and wane. It is less likely than other types of joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, to worsen over time and become disabling. People with psoriasis may also have more common forms of arthritis. Rarely, people with psoriatic arthritis may develop a disabling form of arthritis in which the joints become deformed. Facts About Psoriasis • Psoriasis affects both men and women. • The word psoriasis comes from a Greek word that m
