Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease of the strong hereditary component. It affects men and women equally and is more prevalent in Caucasians. It produces scaly and inflamed lesions that usually appear symmetrically on the extensor surfaces of the extremities, mainly elbows and knees.

In people with psoriasis, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Skin cells usually grow deep into the skin until it reaches the surface about once a month. Psoriasis accelerates this process and dead skin cells build up on the surface of the skin causing skin plates red, irritated and scaly.

The existence of true psoriatic lesions in the oral mucosa is much discussed. Sometimes the signs of oral psoriasis have no differentiation from other oral diseases causing their injuries are easily mistaken for signs of other oral conditions.

An extensive study by the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico 200 patients with psoriasis resulted in all patients had skin lesions; 88 patients had oral lesions, of which only 2.5% (5 patients) showed lesions characteristic of the disease in the oral mucosa.

While psoriasis is a disease that today it is not clear that has a direct impact on our oral health, if it is related to other diseases, such as rheumatic, renal, cardiovascular, COPD or diabetes, which, either by itself disease or its treatment, cause changes in the bone, joints, calcium or inflammation and long term can affect our oral health.

It is recommended that if any of the diseases that may be related to the oral cavity, such as psoriasis are suffering communicate to the dentist so you can keep track of their potential impact on our oral health.