Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with worldwide prevalence, primarily characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, abnormal keratinization, and immune cell infiltration, with a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life and mental well-being. The onset of psoriasis is closely associated with genetic susceptibility, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors. Despite research progress into the pathogenesis of psoriasis, existing treatment method still face problems including limited efficacy and obvious side effects. There is thus an urgent need for an in-depth analysis of its pathological network and the development of novel interventional strategies. The imiquimod-induced psoriasis animal model has accordingly become a crucial tool for studying psoriasis owing to its high reproducibility and excellent pathological simulation. This review systematically summarizes the core mechanism of action of the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model, expounds on the molecular basis of its action via pathways such as the cascade reaction of the core immune-inflammatory axis, the multi-regulatory network of downstream synergistic mechanisms, and the interaction between host and environmental factors. Research based on this model has successfully verified the therapeutic effects of various targeted therapies and natural products on psoriasis, demonstrating its important application value in therapeutic interventional research. We also discuss the limitations of the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model, and indicate future research directions, with the aim of providing references for further in-depth research and the treatment of psoriasis.