Psoriasis \Pso*ri"a*sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? psora.] (Med.) (a) The state of being affected with psora. [Obs.] (b) A cutaneous disease, characterized by imbricated silvery scales, affecting only the superficial layers of the skin.
psoriasis n : a chronic skin disease characterized by dry red patches covered with scales; occurs especially on the scalp and ears and genitalia and the skin over bony prominences