What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a genetically determined, autoimmue, inflammatory skin disease characterized by rounded red, patches or plaques covered by white or silvery scales. It is a lifelong condition and because of its systemic nature, patients exhibit a broad spectrum of symptoms that vary in severity.

What is it like to have Psoriasis?

Common Symptoms Patients' Latest Severity My Current Severity  
Severity
Severe
Moderate
Mild
None
Itching (pruritus) None Mild Moderate Severe
Psoriatic plaques (scaly patches) None Mild Moderate Severe
Rashes (redness, swelling) None Mild Moderate Severe
Skin pain None Mild Moderate Severe

What do patients take to treat Psoriasis and its symptoms?

Commonly prescribed and frequently used treatments

Treatment name Efficacy Overall rating of side effects # of Evaluations
Clobetasol topical
(Olux, Olux-E, Dermovate, Clobex)
27
Methotrexate
(Methotrexate Sodium, Preservative Free, Metoject, Rheumatrex Dose Pack, Trexall)
19
Hydrocortisone topical
(Corticaine Cream, Cortizone-5, Cortifoam, Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream)
16
Adalimumab
(Humira Pen Crohn's Disease Starter Package, Humira Pen Psoriasis Starter Package, Humira Pen, Humira)
11
Etanercept
(Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick)
11
Betamethasone-calcipotriene topical
(Taclonex Scalp, Daivobet, Taclonex, Dovobet)
6

These charts show data from Psoriasis patients' latest treatment evaluations

Who has Psoriasis at PatientsLikeMe?

<20 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+
Current Age
Distribution of females vs. males
Gender
73% Females
27% Males
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom # of patients Proportion
0-19 yrs 375
20-29 yrs 175
30-39 yrs 108
40-49 yrs 70
50-59 yrs 21
60-69 yrs 10
70+ yrs 3
Types
Condition Types # of patients Proportion
Erythrodermic psoriasis 18
Guttate psoriasis 107
Inverse psorasis 56
Plaque psoriasis 450
Pustular psoriasis 62
Seborrheic psoriasis 67
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status # of patients Proportion
Diagnosed 951
Not Officially Diagnosed 35

These charts show data from Psoriasis patients who have completed their condition history