Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Dermatology

Identifying and treating psoriasis

Bruce Tate
Abstract
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that can present in many ways. Treating the condition can be simple or a major challenge for GPs. A patient’s response to treatment can be unpredictable and a step-wise approach is usually adopted.
Key Points
  • The prevalence of psoriasis is about 2%, affecting men and women equally.
  • The severity of psoriasis varies markedly between patients and in an individual patient over time.
  • The chronic plaque form of psoriasis is seen in 80 to 90% of cases.
  • Treatment of psoriasis is tailored to the patient depending on the extent of the disease, patient preference and response to previous treatment.
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