FAQs

1. What is psoriasis?

   Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes patches of red, inflamed, scaly skin called plaques. It arises as a result of a fault in your immune system which mistakenly attacks your own skin cells.

2. How do you catch psoriasis?

   You don't. Psoriasis is not contagious. You can't catch it or pass it onto someone else. And you can't transfer psoriasis from one part of your body to another by touching the affected skin.

3. Can psoriasis be caused by poor hygiene?

   No, there is no link between hygiene and the development or worsening of psoriasis.

4. So what does cause it then?

   The exact cause of psoriasis isn't known, but there are likely to be several factors that need to work together to cause the condition. One of these factors is likely to be your genes, as one in three people with Psoriasis has a close relative with the condition.

5. Does my lifestyle also play a role in causing my psoriasis?

   There are a lot of factors that cause psoriasis, but smoking, alcohol or stress can certainly worsen your psoriasis.

6. Does psoriasis only affect the skin?

   No. psoriasis is a skin condition, but it can affect other part of your body, such as your nails and scalp. An associated condition which may develop in about 1 in 20 people with psoriasis is called psoriatic arthritis, which is a joint condition.

7. Can psoriasis be cured?

   Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition. There is currently no treatment that can provide a cure. However, there is a wide range of different treatment options to help you to minimise your symptoms and manage your psoriasis.

8. Is sunbathing or using a sunbed as effective as phototherapy?

   No, sunbeds have little effect on psoriasis. Unlike sun-beds, phototherapy uses specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light that have been shown to improve psoriasis.

9. What is psoriatic arthritis?

   It's a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in about a third of people with psoriasis. It causes joint stiffness and pain which may appear before or after you first notice your skin symptoms.