FAQs

Psoriasis [pronounced sorr-eye-iss-iss], also called PsO, is a chronic, or ongoing, disease that can appear anywhere on the body.^1,2 Want to know more?

PsO isn’t contagious,³ but some people may worry that it is, so it might be worth speaking to them to let them know there’s nothing to worry about. It might feel daunting to have a tough conversation but could make things easier for you in the long run – take a look at some tips.

As well as causing pain, discomfort, itching and sometimes sleepless nights, PsO could make you feel unhappy and affect your self-esteem and quality of life.^4,5 Read about how it affects people.

PsO is a chronic, long-term condition, but that doesn’t mean you will always have symptoms.⁶ Everyone’s experience is different, and you may find that your symptoms are better at some times than others, or even seem to disappear for a while.⁶ But even if you don’t have symptoms at the moment, you should still take your treatment as it’s been prescribed.⁷ Want to know what things might make a difference?

You and your healthcare professional will decide what treatment is right for you, but the main ones used to treat PsO are: topical therapy, which is used externally on skin lesions; phototherapy, a treatment that uses ultraviolet rays; systemic therapy, which is pills or injections that act throughout the body; and biological therapy, which is injections under the skin, or infusions made from protein.^8-11 Could one be right for you?

PsO doesn’t just affect the body – it’s common to feel frustrated or overwhelmed, and your wellbeing and quality of life may be affected.^4,12 Make sure you let your healthcare professional know how you’re really feeling – physically and emotionally. Watch out for the signs you should speak to your doctor.

PsO may affect your self-esteem, and this could affect your romantic life.¹³ Also, if your PsO lesions are in private areas, it may be painful or challenging to become intimate.¹³ If you have concerns that your PsO symptoms aren’t improving, or if you’re feeling too unhappy to get close to someone, please speak to your doctor. We’ve put together some useful tips for having the conversation.

You might only have 10 minutes with your doctor, so it’s important to use it wisely. It might help to make a list of priorities you’d like to talk about, so if you run out of time, you know you’ll have covered your most important topics. Find out about this and other tips now.

It can be tricky to see how much things change over time if you haven’t kept a record. Try tracking your progress every week and share the results with your doctor at your next appointment. You’ll find a handy tracking sheet here.

Be honest with your healthcare professional about how you’re feeling. It might be daunting to speak up, and you may be worried about being left with no other treatment options, but there are many different treatments for PsO, and new ones being developed all the time.¹⁰ If he or she doesn’t know how you really are, you might not get the treatment that’s right for you. To show your doctor how you’re doing day-to-day, try completing a progress tracker regularly. Try tracking today.

There are many people who suffer from PsO and will understand just what you’re going through. Your healthcare professional may be able to direct you to local or online groups where you can meet others with PsO, or you there are some larger organisations you can try here.