Psoriasis is surprisingly common, particularly
in Europe and the USA. Psoriasis affects men and women equally and it can
start at any age. Psoriasis causes pink or red raised patches of skin, which
are called ‘plaques’ by doctors. Plaques have a scaly surface
and may range in size from tiny to very large. You cannot catch psoriasis
from other people, or infect anyone else if you have the condition yourself.
There is no cure for psoriasis, although it does occasionally disappear
for good. However, the treatments have greatly improved and, although coping
with psoriasis is still a great challenge for many people, the help available
is better now than it has ever been.
Dr Andrew Warin is Consultant Dermatologist
at the Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust. He has had a long-standing
interest in the treatment of psoriasis and in patient and GP education.
He has recently completed an interactive CD-ROM patient information program
on psoriasis.
