Mechanism

Scaling / Plaques

Visible thickened, often silvery surface layers from accelerated, disorganized turnover.

Review

What it is

Scaling reflects rapidly produced, incompletely differentiated corneocytes that fail to shed properly.

Plaques are the hallmark visible lesion of psoriasis.

Visible scaling is what users see and search for; understanding the upstream cause changes the framing.

The rate at which skin cells proliferate, differentiate, and shed; accelerated in psoriasis.

Innate immune response producing redness, swelling, and discomfort in affected skin.

Ingredient axes

Scaling / keratolytic axis

Agents (salicylic acid, urea, lactic acid) that soften and remove excess scale.

Skin barrier axis

Formulations supporting the lipid barrier and reducing transepidermal water loss.