Psoriasis is a scaly disorder where the skin grows more quickly than it sheds. The skin becomes thick and scaly in patches and appears as silvery scales. These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body. Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.

Psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the UK.  It can start at any age but most often develops in adults under 35 years old, and affects men and women equally.  Psoriasis often runs in families.

The severity of psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some it's just a minor irritation but, for others, it can majorly affect their quality of life.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting disease that usually involves periods where there are no symptoms or mild symptoms, followed by periods when symptoms are more severe.

Our Advice

• It is not normally caused by external factors.
• It is important to treat the skin all the time: prevention is better than cure.
• Apply emollients often. This will reduce the skin eruptions and the need for other treatments.
• Some psoriasis cases need stronger treatment, which is available from your doctor.
• If you are worried about your skin condition, ask our pharmacist for advice.