Milady Skin Disorders and Diseases Practice Test 2025 - Free Skin Disorder Practice Questions and Study Guide

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder characterized by the rapid growth of skin cells, leading to the formation of thick, red patches covered with silvery-white scales or plaques. This condition often occurs on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, but it can affect any part of the body. The scales develop due to an overproduction of skin cells, which accumulate and fail to shed normally, resulting in a scaly appearance that can be itchy and sometimes painful.

In contrast, dermatitis and eczema, while they can cause red, inflamed skin, typically do not result in the thick, defined plaques that are characteristic of psoriasis. Dermatitis is a broad term that includes various types of inflammation of the skin that may result in different symptoms and forms, but scaling is not usually the prominent feature. Rosacea primarily affects the face and is more associated with redness, visible blood vessels, and sometimes pustules, rather than the scaliness seen in psoriasis.