What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic autoimmune disease that affects the life cycle of skin cells. ^1,2 Psoriasis causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin, forming thick silvery scales and itchy dry red skin lesions known as plaques. These plaques may become itchy, burn, crack and bleed and can be disfiguring.

Psoriasis can be mild, moderate or severe:

• Mild: less than 3 per cent of the body affected
• Moderate: 3 – 10 per cent
• Severe: 10 per cent or more of the body²

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form, affecting approximately 90 per cent of people with psoriasis. The disease can impair a person’s quality of life and may be associated with depressive illness as well as cardiovascular disease and psoriatic arthritis.

Who does it affect?

Psoriasis can occur in people of all ages, but typically appears in patients between the ages of 16 to 22 and 57 to 60.⁴ Young children are also vulnerable to the disease, approximately one-third of those who get psoriasis are under 20 years old when the disease first surfaces.⁵

Research shows that if a parent is affected by the disease, there is a 16 per cent chance their children will also develop psoriasis and when both parents have psoriasis the risk is up to 50 per cent.⁶

It is estimated that 350,000 Australians and nearly 67,000 New Zealanders suffer from plaque psoriasis.⁷ Around 9 to 10 per cent suffer from severe chronic plaque psoriasis.7 It has been suggested that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a human protein, plays a role in the development of the disease.⁴

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms may include:

• Red scaly patches of skin that can range from a few spots to large areas of the body covered
• Itching, burning or soreness
• Dry, cracked skin that may bleed²

How is it diagnosed and managed?

Psoriasis is generally diagnosed through an examination of the skin by a healthcare professional, most commonly a dermatologist. A skin biopsy may be performed to examine the skin under a microscope to determine the exact type of psoriasis and to rule out other disorders.²

Although there is no known cure for psoriasis⁵, there are treatment options that can reduce the symptoms associated with the disease. Options include topical therapy, phototherapy and oral medications.² There is also a relatively new class of treatment, known as biologic drugs or ‘biologics’ that can be used in the treatment of psoriasis. They are given by injection or intravenous (IV) infusion.⁸

Where can I get more information?

Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional, or visit some of the following sites that may offer more information.

Psoriasis Australia

Psoriasis New Zealand

National Psoriasis Foundation (US)

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1 National Psoriasis Foundation (USA). About Psoriasis. http://www.psoriasis.org/home/learn01.php. Accessed 27 October 2009.

2 The Mayo Clinic. Psoriasis. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psoriasis/DS00193. Accessed 10 Nov 2009.

3 National Psoriasis Foundation (USA). Statistics. http://www.psoriasis.org/netcommunity/learn_statistics. Accessed 30 October 2009.

4 Griffiths CEM & Barker JNWN. Pathogenesis and clinical features of psoriasis. Lancet 2007; 370:263-71.

5 National Psoriasis Foundation (USA). Parents & Youth. http://www.psoriasis.org/netcommunity/learn_forteens_facts. Accessed 29 October, 2009.

6 Schön MP & Boehncke WH. Psoriasis. N Engl J Med 2005; 352(18):1899-912.

7 Abbott HEOR data on file. November 2008.

8 National Psoriasis Foundation (USA). http://www.psoriasis.org/netcommunity/sublearn03_severe_biologics Accessed 29 October 2009.