Yes, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity means when the body’s own immunity attacks the cells and tissues of the body. Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which there is replication of skin cells at much faster rate than the normal speed. The speed is eight times faster than normal. This is something abnormal. Thus, there is build up of skin cells on the surface of the skin. Researchers have found out that people with psoriasis have abnormally large number of T cells. T cells are type of white blood cells. T cells work as infantry of the immunity. When autoimmunity triggers, the body feels the need to defend itself by producing large number of T cells. Thus the skin becomes red, itchy and flaky. And when autoimmunity triggers, the cells and tissues or any other body organs are attacked. In this case it means that when autoimmunity triggers the skin is attacked by mistake.

This is a chronic condition and 10-20% of psoriasis patients have chances of psoriatic arthritis. There are basically 5 types of psoriasis out of which plaque psoriasis is much common. 80 percent of people have this type. Men and women both are affected by psoriasis. Every year, approximately 150,000 new cases of psoriasis are reported.