Who gets psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition which has been estimated to affect around 1.52.0% of the UK population. Here’s what we know about who gets the different types of psoriasis:

1. Plaque psoriasis

   Plaque Psoriasis can affect anyone. Sometimes it occurs because there is a history of Psoriasis in your family, although this is not always the case. Whilst it can appear at any age, you’re more likely to get it before you reach your mid-40s.

2. Guttate psoriasis

   This type of Psoriasis is particularly common in children and teenagers and can develop 1 or 2 weeks after a throat infection such as tonsillitis (caused by a type of bacteria called streptococcus) or after a stressful life event.

3. Erythrodermic psoriasis

   This is a rare condition which can occur at any age.

4. Pustular psoriasis

   This is most common in people aged 40–50 and is rare in children and teenagers. It is also nine times more common in women, and in smokers and ex-smokers.

5. Generalised pustular psoriasis

   This can occur at any age although it is very rare in children. As well as different types of psoriasis, the condition may appear on different parts of the body

Multiple conditions

Medical research suggests that there are some conditions associated with psoriasis. These include;

• Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis which can develop in people who have psoriasis
• Crohn's disease (an inflammatory bowel disease) is recognised as an associated disease to psoriasis both clinically and genetically
• Cardiovascular disease is more common in people with psoriasis due to the long-term inflammation that people with psoriasis experience
• Depression is common among people with psoriasis
• Diabetes Type 2 has shown to be more common in people who have severe psoriasis which covers a large body surface area
• Obesity has shown to be more common in people who have psoriasis
• Hypertension has shown to be more common in people who have severe psoriasis which covers a large body surface area