Psoriasis
While the exact cause of psoriasis isn’t fully understood, scientists believe psoriasis is the result of several factors, including the immune system. When you have psoriasis, your immune system is overactive. This creates inflammation inside the body, which is a cause of the symptoms you see on the skin.The immune system involves a type of cells known as T cells. A trigger causes the T cells to behave as if they are fighting an infection or healing a wound. They produce chemicals that cause inflammation. In psoriasis, this leads to an excessive growth of skin cells and inflammation.Unlike sexually transmitted diseases, psoriasis is not contagious. But as with STDs, most people want to explain psoriasis to people they’re dating so that they’re prepared when they see it and understand they can’t catch it. That’s tricky, because you may fear that telling the truth is a one-way ticket to rejection.Usually starting as small red bumps on the skin, plaque psoriasis (pictured) develops into red patches with a silvery, scaly coating — these raised patches are called plaques. Plaques usually show up on elbows, knees, and the lower back, and they can last for months or even years without treatment.“This type of fat can worsen psoriasis symptoms because it can easily be converted into inflammatory compounds,” Warren says. Also to include on your foods-to-avoid list: processed meats, such as sausage and bacon. Dairy Products Like red meat, dairy products also contain the natural inflammatory arachidonic acid.