I would like to start with a brief explanation regarding why I have decided to write my research paper on the topic of psoriasis. Firstly, I chose it because my mother was diagnosed with that skin condition last year. Although she has tried many professors best of their majors back in my home country, Turkey, she still can not get rid of it completely. Secondly, I also have symptoms of the disease, especially when the seasons change. Finally, according to my research, psoriasis is a common skin disease in the USA as well. All of this makes me want to learn more about this medical condition. To complete my research paper, I have analyzed many resources, both databases online and GRC library. Even more, I have also talked to several dermatologists. The results of my research are presented below. In this paper, the one can find the definition of psoriasis, the causes of the illness, the ways to cope with it and the methods of prevention. I believe, this paper will provide people with valuable knowledge of a common skin disease that often can be mistreated or wrong diagnosed (as in my mother’s case and mine as well). The Definition of Psoriasis Psoriasis (PS) can be defined as a long-lasting (usually chronic) dermatosis, which causes excessive growth of skin cells and leads “to a buildup of dead cells on the surface of the epidermis” (“How psoriasis develops” par. 1). Those cells form patches of irregular form, which have red or pink color and often dry, itching and painful. Occasionally, the symptoms of PS get better or worse, depending on the seasons change, patient’s strength of immunity, etc. So far, there is not any cure that can guarantee a complete recovery. However, there are many methods of treatment, which can improve general symptoms, stop skin cells from excessive growth and bring relief to a patient. A Brief History of the Disease The first mention of symptoms close to psoriasis was in ancient Greece, although these were not called psoriasis (Penzer and Ersser 121). The term firstly appeared in the 18th century when dermatologist described psoriasis as “dry and scary lesions” (Penzer and Ersser 121). A century later psoriasis was recognized as a unique illness. In the 20th century, different types of the disease were distinguished (Penzer and Ersser 122). However, both then and now psoriasis is frequently mistaken for other types of dermatosis. That is because it is hardly possible to be sure that a patient has psoriasis only by looking at the patches on the skin. A detailed examination of the patient, including a biopsy of affected skin areas, is necessary to establish the correct diagnosis. Who Gets Psoriasis? According to Freiman and Barankin, approximately 2-3% of the population are diagnosed with PS (1). An average age of a patient who gets psoriasis at the first time is thirty (Penzer and Ersser 122). As for the gender, both men and women are equally likely to have PS. The most important fact is that psoriasis is not contagious. That is something that I have already known before starting my research. It is imperative to inform patients about it, so they will not worry about infecting people from their surroundings. However, if that is true, th