Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common long-standing inflammatory skin condition that occurs in about 1 - 5% of people worldwide.

Patients with psoriasis have red scaly patches that occur on the skin. These areas are often called plaques. The plaques are often itchy, however sometimes they are not itchy at all. The skin in psoriasis patches grows at a much quicker rate than in normal skin. The excess skin then sheds in scales. Psoriasis is commonly localised to the elbows, knees, scalp and buttocks however it can affect other areas of the body. Psoriasis can have a substantial emotional impact on patients and may be associated with problems such as poor self-esteem and anxiety.

Treatment for psoriasis depends on the severity of the disease. They may include numerous types of creams (such as moisturisers, corticosteroids, tar and Vitamin D and Vitamin A), treatment using ultraviolet light, and other medications. For patients with hard to treat psoriasis, medications known as biologicals may be recommended by a specialist.