DEFINED: The Psoriasis Area Severity Index or PASI is one tool dermatologists use to determine severity of psoriasis by assessing percentage of body surface area involved, intensity of redness, scaling, and thickness of disease on skin.
Understanding the severity of your psoriasis is one of the most important steps in your psoriasis journey. You will partner with your dermatologist, who will evaluate your severity by taking several factors into account, such as what percentage of your body is covered in plaques, to determine the severity of your psoriasis and develop a treatment plan.
Several factors go into determining whether your psoriasis is mild, moderate, or severe:
- Body surface area covered
- Intensity of symptoms
- Location of symptoms
- Personal impact
Remember—each case of psoriasis is unique, so giving your doctor the full story about the physical and personal impact will help them assess the severity of your condition.