Is psoriasis caused by something specific?

As of 2015, the specific cause of psoriasis is unknown, says WebMD. Genes and triggers likely play a significant role. Nonetheless, psoriasis is a chronic disease with no cure, says Mayo Clinic.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that alters the life cycle of the skin cells, reports Mayo Clinic. The cells build up quickly on the surface of the skin in dry, itchy scales. The areas can be small spots or very large areas of skin. In some cases the patches are very painful. There are many types of psoriasis, including nail psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, guttate psoriasis and inverse psoriasis.