Questions & answers

Why have I got psoriasis when no one else in my family has it?

Psoriasis tends to run in families, but there are also trigger factors that activate the condition. Some of these triggers are known and some are not. It is therefore possible that members of your family have ‘carried’ the psoriasis genes but the condition itself has never surfaced. Alternatively, a brief attack of psor­iasis in a relative many years ago may have been forgotten.

Will my children get psoriasis?

A child is at an increased risk of psoriasis if one of their parents has the condition. This risk is increased dramatically if both parents have psoriasis.

Why have I got psoriasis now when I have never had it before?

To develop psoriasis, you have to have a gene susceptibility. There are then certain triggers that activate the condition, such as streptococcal tonsillitis, hormonal factors, sunburn, certain drugs and possibly stress. The psoriasis may be triggered at any time, and may develop for no obvious reason.

Is psoriasis infectious?

No.

Can psoriasis be cured completely?

Often psoriasis does not return for months or even years after a course of treatment. It cannot, however, be cured in the sense of ‘banished forever’.

Can I get rid of my psoriasis?

Psoriasis can usually be successfully treated. Various treatments are available, both topical and systemic; the treatment you use will depend on the type and severity of your condition. Most treatments help to relieve psoriasis; some even clear it up for long periods of time.

What will happen to my psoriasis if I become pregnant?

The effect of pregnancy on psoriasis is variable. Some women find that their psoriasis improves during pregnancy; others find that their condition worsens. If you are taking medication for your psoriasis make sure that you speak to your doctor before becoming pregnant, because some medicines can harm the fetus.

Are there any drugs that make psoriasis worse?

Yes, some drugs can worsen exist­ing psoriasis. In particular, psoriasis can be aggravated by lithium, which is given for manic depres­sion, and by a course of oral corti­costeroids taken for other chronic medical conditions. Occasionally, beta-blocker drugs used for heart disease or hypertension aggravate psoriasis too. Some anti-malarial drugs are said to worsen psoriasis but in practice rarely do so.

Is psoriasis the result of stress?

In most cases, no. In some people, however, stress makes their psoriasis worse, but it is not the actual cause.

Will I get arthritis?

Not necessarily. In one hospital-based study, about six to eight per cent of patients with psor­iasis developed some form of psoriatic arthritis. The figures are probably much lower than this in real life because this study focused on people with severe symptoms – most patients with mild psoriasis do not go to hospital dermatology departments.