New Figures Show Psoriasis Affects Around 11 Million People In Uk
Around 1.7% of the UK population are affected by the chronic skin condition psoriasis, according to researchers at The University of Manchester and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.
The figures, which have never been compiled before, are published today in the worlds first Global Psoriasis Atlas, an interactive web platform which aims construct a global picture of psoriasis. It is published on World Psoriasis Day today
The team carried out extensive search of all available evidence and used the data in a statistical model to generate estimates of the prevalence of psoriasis for every country of the world.
Previously, such detailed information has only been available for a very small number of countries.
Also according to the Atlas, the country most affected by psoriasis is Norway with a prevalence of 1.98% of the overall population. The lowest prevalence is across East Asia at 0.12%.
Around 2% of the Wests population are affected and the region with the lowest prevalence is East Asia with a prevalence of 0.12%.
The UK is ranked 21st in countries with the highest prevalence of psoriasis worldwide , corresponding to approximately 1·1 million people affected by the disease.
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed And Treated
Psoriasis often has a typical appearance that a primary care doctor can recognize, but it can be confused with other skin diseases , so a dermatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriasis usually depends on how much skin is affected, how bad the disease is , or the location . Treatments range from creams and ointments applied to the affected areas to ultraviolet light therapy to drugs . Many people who have psoriasis also have serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Some people with psoriasis also have an inflammatory condition which affects their joints, called psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis has many of the same symptoms as other types of arthritis, so a rheumatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis usually involves the use of drugs .
Psoriatic disease may be treated with drugs or a combination of drugs and creams or ointments.
Early Signs Of Psoriatic Arthritis
Some of the symptoms of PsA are similar to those ofosteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
If you have psoriatic arthritis, you could experience:
- Joint swelling
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or afterlong periods of inactivity
- Swelling of an entire finger or toe in theabsence of trauma
- Lower back pain
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Doctors Need To Understand And Address Comorbidities
This study is unique because it examines psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as individual diseases rather than combining them. This allows scientists to better determine the specific effects of each condition.
How diseases interact is also important because treating a person is more difficult when they have multiple conditions. Clinicians need to be aware that the diseases can co-occur. It is also important for the individual with the disease and their carers to understand this as well.
Our work shows the impact of chronic diseases, such as and PsA, on the sexuality and mood of our patients in a large collective, the researchers concluded. In patients who suffer from additional articular disease in combination with skin disease, the proportion of erectile dysfunction and depression is particularly high. Physicians should pay more attention to these common comorbidities and consciously address during the medical consultations.
What Percentage Of The Population Has Psoriatic Arthritis
Globally, 2% to 3% of the population has psoriasisaround 125 million people worldwide. About 30% of people who have psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis .
In the United States, more than eight million people have psoriasis, and roughly 2.4 million of those people have psoriatic arthritis.
However, its believed that many people with psoriasis have undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis. In the United States, it is estimated that more than 15% of people with psoriasis may have psoriatic arthritis but have not been diagnosed.
That means that there could be up to 1.2 million more people in the United States with psoriatic arthritis than current data indicates, bringing the total closer to 3.6 million people.
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It Can Affect The Scalp Hairline Forehead Back Of The Neck And Skin Around The Ears
Did You Know?
Symptoms may include fine scaling that looks like dandruff, or appear as thick, crusted plaques that cover the entire scalp. Other skin disorders, such as seborrheic dermatitis, may resemble psoriasis. However, scalp psoriasis appears powdery with a silvery sheen, while seborrheic dermatitis looks yellowish and greasy. Scalp psoriasis is common in patients of color, but treating it can be particularly tough due to the hair type.
Scalp psoriasis may be an indicator of psoriatic arthritis , as many people have both. If you think you have scalp psoriasis, see a dermatologist to diagnose scalp psoriasis and visit a rheumatologist to screen for psoriatic arthritis.
No matter how severe your scalp psoriasis is, there are options for treating the itching and flakes â from over-the-counter shampoos and topicals to light therapy, oral treatments and biologics.
Christopher E M Griffiths
4Dermatology Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
5NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
1Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
5NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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You Might Hear: You Just Have To Learn To Live With It
Know that this isnât true. There is action you can take to tame your skin.
âIf your doctor tells you, ‘This is as good as you’re going to get,’ even though your symptoms are bothersome, painful, or cause you distress, know you have other options,â Jacobs says. Besides, not every doctor has experience treating psoriasis.
What you can do:
Press your doctor for more information. If they don’t help, talk to another one. Try a dermatologist who offers newer treatments like biologics, Jacob says.
âYou may visit multiple before finding someone who will work with you to find an option that offers relief, but it’s worth it,â she says.
âWe don’t have a cure, but we do have great options, so don’t ever stop asking, âWhat are my choices?ââ she says. âThe past decade has seen more advances for psoriasis than perhaps any other skin condition.â
You can check out the Psoriasis Foundationâs web site, psoriasis.org, which has a list of reputable doctors. Plus, they have information on the latest psoriasis research.
Is Psoriasis The Same As Eczema
Psoriasis and eczema are two different skin conditions. They differ in where the disease appears on the body, how much it itches and how it looks. Eczema tends to appear more often behind the knees and inside the elbows. Eczema also causes more intense itching than psoriasis. Many people, especially children, can get both eczema and psoriasis.
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Causes And Risk Factors Of Psoriasis
Psoriasis, in general, is a genetic condition passed down through families. “It’s likely that multiple genes need to be affected to allow psoriasis to occur and that it’s frequently triggered by an external event, such as an infection,” says James W. Swan, MD, professor of dermatology at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois.
Certain risk factors, such as a family history or being obese, may increase your odds of developing psoriasis.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation , at least 10 percent of people inherit genes that could lead to psoriasis, but only 3 percent or less actually develop the disease. For this reason, it is believed that the disease is caused by a combination of genetics and external factors or triggers.
A psoriasis outbreak may be provoked by:
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed
Psoriasis is generally diagnosed by a physical examination of the skin, as well as a medical and family history. The doctor may also take a biopsy to examine under a microscope. While a general practitioner may diagnose psoriasis, people with skin conditions may wish to consult with a dermatologist, a specialist on skin disorders.2
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Is It Scalp Psoriasis Or Dandruff
More than half of all psoriasis patients have scalp psoriasis, according to the NPF. Itchy plaques can extend beyond the hairline onto the forehead, neck, and around the ears.
“Most people with scalp psoriasis have it on other parts of their body as well,” says Dina D. Strachan, MD, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
Scalp psoriasis is sometimes confused with seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff. According to Dr. Strachan, dandruff which causes a flaky, itchy scalp without signs of inflammation tends to itch more than scalp psoriasis. It has a greasy-appearing yellow scale, Strachan says. In contrast, psoriasis whether it’s on your scalp or any other body part tends to have a thick, silvery scale.”
Ee: Estimation Process And Statistical Methods
For this EE process, estimates of disease prevalence and severity distribution were elicited from a group of 11 dermatology experts through an online survey administered in May 2020. Prior to the survey, the expert group met in two online teleconferences in MarchApril 2020. The teleconferences established the starting point for body surface area thresholds that the committee members believed reasonable for estimating proportions across the entire spectrum of disease . Using a Delphi methodology, the experts first estimated the proportion of plaque psoriasis in the adult population, then estimated rates of plaque psoriasis distributed by BSA. Panel members were asked to provide the most likely, lowest, and maximum estimate of prevalence and of distribution for the predetermined BSA thresholds. The ranges of BSA thresholds could also be adjusted at the experts discretion in this activity .
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Signs And Symptoms Of Psoriasis
Psoriasis plaques can range from a few spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions that cover large areas. The diseases symptoms and appearance vary according to the type and severity of psoriasis.
Some common signs and symptoms include:
- Discolored patches or raised plaques of skin that are covered with scales
- Burning, itching, or soreness near the affected areas
- Pitted or thickened fingernails or toenails
What Populations Are Impacted By Psa
Psoriatic arthritis is thought to occur in up to 1 to 2 percent of the general population, with survey results indicating that approximately 1 million adults in the U.S. have PsA.4,6 Caucasians are known to be more commonly affected than African Americans and Native Americans. Men and women are equally affected.3 PsA generally develops in people aged 30-50 years, most often in the 40s and 50s. In the juvenile form of the disease, PsA develops at 9-11 years of age.3,6
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What Are The Financial Costs Of Psoriasis
Because psoriasis is a condition that affects so many Americans, it has a large financial impact on the economy of the United States. Researchers think that it may cost as much as $135 billion each year.2
Living with psoriasis can also impact a personâs ability to work and earn money. It can cause a person to miss work due to the disease, and it can affect productivity when a person goes to work when they are bothered by their symptoms. One study found that around 20 percent of people with psoriasis missed work due to the disease, while around one-third of people went to work despite feeling unwell due to symptoms related to psoriasis. For example, lesions on the hands may make certain jobs, sports, or caring for others difficult or impossible.5
What Psoriasis Patients Must Know About Psa
Surprisingly, many people with psoriasis dont even know about PsA and, for about 30 percent of patients, it takes more than five years to get diagnosed. This is partly because PsA can easily be misdiagnosed, especially if the person does not have psoriasis. In this case, it may be missed or mistaken for another type of inflammatory arthritis, says Dr. Haberman. If only one joint is involved, such a toe, it can be mistaken for gout.
A 2018 study conducted by our parent non-profit organization, the Global Healthy Living Foundation, found that 96 percent of people received at least one misdiagnosis prior to being diagnosed with PsA.
If you wait 10 years and just rationalize that maybe you hurt myself, by the time you see a physician and get diagnosed, youve accumulated years of disease and inflammation, and your doctor will need to use stronger drugs with potentially more side effects to get the symptoms under control, says Dr. Husni.
Adds Dr. Haberman: We know that a delay in diagnosis and treatment of as little as six months can lead to worse outcomes over the long term. We have great medications that can help, so see the rheumatologist so we can talk about the best treatment options. The earlier we treat, the better you will be.
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You Might Hear: What’s The Big Deal It’s Just A Rash
Yes, psoriasis can be itchy and aggravating. But what many people don’trealize is that it’s a serious health condition.
âI’m sometimes surprised when people act like it’s ‘just psoriasis,'” says Gary Spivak, who also has the common disorder. âIt can lead to skin infections and scarring, and research even shows that it’s linked to an increased risk of heart problems.â
What you can do:
You don’t have to explain the seriousness to everyone. But if a friend, family member, or colleague asks, you could look at it as an opportunity to spread awareness, Jacob says.
Ineson also approaches it as a teaching moment. And a little humor never hurts. âIf that was the case, Iâd be lathered in cream,â she says.
Are Some People More Likely Than Others To Develop Psoriasis
People of all ages can develop psoriasis. About one-third of people with psoriasis are diagnosed with the disease before the age of 20, and around three-quarters of people are diagnosed before the age of 40. Some people who have never had the condition before will develop it for the first time between the ages of 50 and 60.1,3
Psoriasis affects men and women at equal rates.3
About one-third of people with psoriasis report having a relative with the condition. If a parent has psoriasis, their child has about a 10 percent chance of developing it too. If both parents have psoriasis, their child has about a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.2 Incident rates in children have more than doubled since 1970. Children also are more likely to have serious co-occurring health issues such as depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and rheumatoid arthritis.4
Psoriasis can affect people of all ethnicities. In the U.S., research has shown that psoriasis is more common among people of certain ethnicities than others. For example, researchers estimate that in the United States, around 2.5 percent of non-Hispanic Caucasians have psoriasis compared to 1.3% of African Americans. About 80 percent, reported mild disease.1,3
People with psoriasis report more mental distress or mild to severe depression than those without psoriasis. They are also more likely to be obese and be a former smoker.3
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What This Study Adds
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This systematic review and meta-analysis provides global, regional, and country specific estimates of the prevalence of psoriasis
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Psoriasis is a common disease that mainly affects the adult population, and is more frequent in high income countries
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An improved understanding of the epidemiology of psoriasis is important when allocating resources to reduce morbidity, disability, and mortality associated with the disease
Global Burden Of Disease
Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious, painful, and disabling disease for which there is no cure and with negative impact on patients quality of life . It can occur at any age and is most common in the age group 5069.
125 million people worldwide or 2-4 percent of the total population have psoriasis, according to the World Psoriasis Day consortium. More than 85% of patients receiving treatment use topical drugs and according to the National Psoriasis Foundation , itch is present in between 70 % and 90 % of psoriasis patients. Together with flaking and scaling, itching is the most burdensome symptom to patients. In addition, people living with psoriatic disease are at an elevated risk of developing other chronic and serious health conditions, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and depression.
The total cost of psoriasis in the US is estimated to be around $35.2 billion, with $12.2 billion in incremental medical costs.
The number of people in the US and EU living with psoriasis is estimated to be around 15 million people.
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How Psoriasis Is Diagnosed
A GP can often diagnose psoriasis based on the appearance of your skin.
In rare cases, a small sample of skin called a biopsy will be sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.
This determines the exact type of psoriasis and rules out other skin disorders, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, lichen planus, lichen simplex and pityriasis rosea.
You may be referred to a specialist in diagnosing and treating skin conditions if your doctor is uncertain about your diagnosis, or if your condition is severe.
If your doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which is sometimes a complication of psoriasis, you may be referred to a doctor who specialises in arthritis .
You may have blood tests to rule out other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and X-rays of the affected joints may be taken.