Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin condition that causes skin cells to multiply rapidly, resulting in scaling, redness, and sometimes itching or pain. It can appear anywhere on the body, but is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Psoriasis is not contagious and is typically viewed as a chronic illness that will have flare-ups based on the presence of stress and environmental factors. If you are trying to determine a length of time you are going to have a permanent solution for psoriasis, it is largely an individual case-by-case basis of how bad the condition actually is, how you tend to react to the therapies, and whether or not you are taking control of certain triggers.