Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin disease affecting 1 in 50 people. It occurs equally in men and women. It can appear at any age. Psoriasis is a long-term condition that may come and go throughout your lifetime. It is not infectious; therefore, you cannot catch psoriasis from someone else.

It does not scar the skin, although sometimes it can cause a temporary increase or reduction in skin color. Although psoriasis is a longterm condition, there are many effective treatments available to keep it under proper control. Psoriasis can affect the nails and the joints, as well as the skin.

Psoriatic arthritis produces swelling and stiffness in the joints or stiffness in the lower back and should be managed by a rheumatologist who works closely with your dermatologist.

Psoriasis, mainly moderate to severe psoriasis, is associated with an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and harmful use of alcohol.

Moderate to severe psoriasis increases the risk of heart disease, and stroke and treatment of psoriasis may reduce this risk. Psoriasis can also be associated with diabetes, obesity, venous thromboembolism, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Psoriasis is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease, and there is a small increased risk of skin cancer.

Both inherited, and environmental factors play a role in the development of psoriasis Skin affected by psoriasis is red and scaly. The outer layer of skin (the epidermis) contains skin cells that are continuously replaced. This process usually takes between three to four weeks. In psoriasis, skin cells divide more quickly so that cells are both formed and shed in as little as three to four days.

Infections, stress, damage to the skin, alcohol, and sometimes intense sunlight may trigger flares of psoriasis. Certain medications such as beta-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure and angina), lithium, and some tablets used to treat malaria can also trigger flare-ups of psoriasis. Suddenly stopping some steroid tablets can also trigger or worsen psoriasis.

Obesity and smoking are associated with a poor response to psoriasis treatments, so exercise and maintaining the correct weight can be beneficial.

Yes, if you have a family member affected with psoriasis, you are more likely to suffer from psoriasis. The way psoriasis is inherited is complicated and not wholly understood as it involves many genes.

• Psoriasis may not have any associated symptoms, but it can be itchy and painful. Specific sites such as the scalp, lower legs, and groin can be particularly itchy. If psoriasis affects the hands and feet, painful fissures (cracks) can develop, and these can affect the walk and use of the hands. Severe psoriasis on the body can also develop cracks which are painful and can bleed.
• Psoriasis can affect the nails and lift away from the nail from the finger, and it can be painful. 
• Psoriatic arthritis produces pain, swelling, and stiffness in one or more joints, particularly in the morning. What does psoriasis look like? The skin changes of psoriasis (often known as plaques) are well defined and slightly raised pink or red (can differ in color depending on your skin color) areas with silvery-white scales. Many people have just a few plaques, but some individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis may have several plaques covering large areas of their bodies. Several patterns of psoriasis are recognized: 
• Chronic plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. Plaques of psoriasis are usually present on the knees, elbows, trunk, scalp, behind ears, and between the buttocks, although other areas can be involved too.
• Guttate psoriasis consists of small plaques of psoriasis scattered over the trunk and limbs. It can be caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus, which can cause throat infections.
• Palmoplantar psoriasis is psoriasis affecting the palms and soles. Psoriasis may appear at other sites too.
• Pustular psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis where the plaques on the trunk and limbs are studded with tiny yellow pus-filled spots. It can be localized or generalized and can flare rapidly, necessitating hospital admission for treatment. 
• Erythrodermic psoriasis is an aggressive, rare form of psoriasis which affects nearly all of the skin and can sometimes require hospital admission for treatment. Nail psoriasis is present in about half of people with psoriasis. The features of nail psoriasis are:
• Pitting (indentations) and ridging of the surface of the nail;
• Salmon pink areas of discoloration under the nail;
• Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed;
• Thickening and yellowing of the nails; and
• Complete nail destruction. 

How will psoriasis be diagnosed?

• Psoriasis is usually diagnosed by the appearance and distribution of the plaques. Skin biopsy is rarely used.
• A rheumatologist usually diagnoses psoriatic arthritis, but your dermatologist or GP may ask you if you have any joint symptoms or ask you to complete a screening questionnaire.

Psoriasis should be assessed at diagnosis, before your first referral to a specialist, every time you see a specialist and to determine your response to treatment. Psoriasis may be evaluated by your doctors using a variety of scores that measure the severity of your skin and joints. And how psoriasis is affecting your mood and your activities of daily life and whether you are at risk for heart disease. These scores include the PASI (Psoriatic Arthritis Severity Index – a score that measures the severity of joint symptoms in psoriasis) and DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index – a score that measures the impact of psoriasis on your daily activities)

There is no cure for psoriasis, and complete clearance of skin lesions may not always be possible. There are several effective treatments available to control your psoriasis. Spontaneous clearance of psoriasis may occur in some people.

Treatment of psoriasis depends upon your circumstances. Medicine applied to the surface of your skin (topical treatment) is sufficient alone in most patients. For people with more extensive or severe to treat psoriasis, ultraviolet light treatment (Phototherapy), tablet treatment or injection treatment may be required.
1. Topical treatments :

• These include creams, ointments, gels, pastes, and lotions. Topical medications are dealt with in more detail in another of our leaflets (Topical treatments for psoriasis).

2. Phototherapy:

• Phototherapy is ultraviolet light delivered in a controlled way to treat psoriasis. A course of treatment usually takes about 8-10 weeks and will require treatment sessions two to three times a week. All this usually means attending a Phototherapy Unit in a hospital.
• Two types of light are used: narrowband ultraviolet B light (nbUVB/TLO1) and ultraviolet A light (PUVA). The latter requires a sensitizer, known as a psoralen, that can be taken as a tablet or added to a bath before the treatment. Further information on Phototherapy is available in the following information leaflets: (Treatments for moderate and severe psoriasis and Phototherapy).

3. Internal (systemic) treatments:Tablet options include acitretin (related to vitamin A), ciclosporin (suppresses the immune system), methotrexate (slows down the rate at which cells are dividing in psoriasis), and in some hospitals fumaric acid esters and apremilast.

• Injectable treatments for psoriasis include etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab, and guselkumab. Other new tablets and injected medications are being developed in clinical studies at present.
• Your dermatologist can recommend blood tests. If you are considering tablet or injection treatment for your psoriasis, then blood tests will be needed before and during treatment. Further details of these treatments can be found in the Treatments for moderate and severe psoriasis and individual drug patient information leaflets. 

• Discuss your psoriasis and how it affects your life with your dermatologist and identify treatment goals.
• Manage your risk factors for heart disease and stroke with your GP.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle: eat a balanced diet, try to lose weight if you are overweight, and exercise regularly.
• Stop smoking if you smoke.
• If you drink excessive alcohol, reducing your intake might be helpful.
• Reduce stress wherever possible.
• Take your medications as recommended by your GP or dermatologist.
• If you have pain in your joints, discuss it with your GP or dermatologist.