What is Psoriasis?
- Chronic: Psoriatic disease cannot be cured, and the disease can periodically relapse.
- Non-communicable: Psoriatic disease is not contagious.
- Painful: Chronic inflammation leads to pain, especially joint and back pain.
- Disfiguring: Psoriatic disease can cause permanent disfigurement, especially in its severe forms.
- Disabling: Chronic joint inflammation can lead to permanent disability if left untreated or treated inadequately.
- Inflammatory: Psoriatic disease is an immune-mediated
disease. Abnormal activity of the immune cells results in
an extreme inflammatory response affecting healthy body
tissue. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to
multiple body sites.
Not all cases of psoriatic disease look the same and there
are many manifestations, including:
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the skin
manifestation of psoriatic disease. It is characterized by
inflamed and laky plaques on the skin.Guttate psoriasis, which typically presents as small round spots that are raised and sometimes scaly. About 8% of people living with psoriasis develop guttate psoriasis.
Inverse psoriasis, which typically presents where the skin folds. Up to 30% of people living with psoriasis develop inverse psoriasis.
Pustular psoriasis, which typically presents as an acute, subacute or chronic pustular eruption and affects about 3% of people living with psoriasis. There are several different types of pustular psoriasis.
Erythrodermic psoriasis, typically cutaneous erythema and scale involving most or all of the body surface area, which is life-threatening and affects approximately 2% of people living with psoriasis.
Psoriatic arthritis affects about one third of people with psoriasis1, but it is possible to have psoriatic arthritis without psoriasis.
What causes it?
The causes of psoriatic disease are not known, but researchers believe that genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of the disease.
Common triggers for the initial onset of the disease and subsequent flareups include stress, skin trauma (cuts, scrapes or tattoos), dry skin, certain medications, climate, alcohol consumption, smoking or infections.
How is it diagnosed?
There are no specific diagnostic tests for psoriatic disease. A diagnosis is usually made based on a physical exam, imaging (x-rays and MRIs) and blood tests to rule out the possibility of conditions that present in similar ways.
How it treated?
Psoriatic disease is treated with topical medication, non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, light therapy, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologics. If psoriatic disease – particularly psoriatic arthritis – is not treated effectively early on, it can result in structural damage.
How does it affect a person?
Psoriatic disease has many consequences, including:
- Physical: Many people find it challenging to live with the symptoms of psoriatic disease, which can include chronic pain, itching, burning and fatigue. The comorbidities (additional conditions an individual might have in addition to a primary condition) of psoriatic disease also significantly impact health and well-being. Finding the best treatment regime for each individual can be a long and complicated process.
- Emotional: The stigma and prejudice often experienced by people living with psoriatic disease inflict a heavy emotional toll. Depression and anxiety are prevalent among people living with the disease.
- Social: Living with psoriatic disease can have a significant impact on relationships with family, friends, partners, co- workers or fellow students. Many people with psoriatic disease report feeling unsupported. Persistent myths about psoriatic disease include the untrue notions that people with the disease are ‘unclean’, that they ’caused their psoriasis’ or that the disease is contagious.
- Economic: There are substantial costs associated with psoriatic disease. The medication can be costly or not covered by insurance providers. Absenteeism and presenteeism are higher in people with psoriatic disease compared with the general population. The presence of comorbidities increases the costs. All of this may contribute to economic challenges.