Psoriatic is an adjective that relates to or is associated with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition characterized by red, itchy, and scaly patches on the skin. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes rapid skin cell growth, leading to the build-up of thick, silvery scales and inflamed areas on various parts of the body, including the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
When used to describe a person, "psoriatic" refers to an individual who has been diagnosed with psoriasis or who exhibits the symptoms of the disease. Psoriatic patients often experience flare-ups of the condition, during which their skin becomes more inflamed and the symptoms worsen. These flare-ups can be triggered by various factors such as stress, infections, injuries, certain medications, or even changes in weather conditions.
Not only does psoriasis affect the skin, but it can also lead to associated conditions such as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling in individuals with psoriasis, often affecting the fingers, toes, lower back, and other joints. The combination of skin and joint symptoms characterizes psoriatic disease.
In summary, "psoriatic" pertains to anything related to psoriasis, a chronic skin condition marked by scaly, red patches, while describing an individual, it refers to someone who has been diagnosed with psoriasis or exhibits the characteristic symptoms, including skin inflammation and scaly patches.
