Psoriasis treatment depends on the severity of the disease and on individual circumstances. In many cases topical treatment (creams, ointments applied directly on the skin lesions) is sufficient. For people with more extensive or difficult to treat psoriasis, ultraviolet light treatment (phototherapy), tablet treatment or injection treatment may be required. Together with the classical psoriasis drugs (acitretin, ciclosporin and methotrexate), today we also have several new drugs such as apremilast and the so called biological therapies (infliximab, etanercept, ustekinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab, golilumab) that are effective and safe. No patient affected by psoriasis should be left untreated.

No, psoriasis is not contagious.

The visible part of psoriasis are the skin lesions, but psoriasis can also affect the joints. Moreover, patients affected by psoriasis may have a greater risk of developing a cardio-vascular disease.

Yes, psoriasis can affect also children, but less frequently than adults. Guttate psoriasis is more common in children, an acute form of psoriasis that can be triggered by streptococcus throat infection.

The way psoriasis is inherited is complex and involves many genes. It’s not a direct transmission, but if you have a family member affected by psoriasis you are more likely to suffer from psoriasis.

Psoriasis is usually diagnosed on the appearance and distribution of the plaques. A skin biopsy is usually not needed.

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for psoriasis. However, there are several effective treatments available to control your psoriasis. Some people can also experience spontaneous clearance of psoriasis.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle (eat a balanced diet, try to lose weight if you are overweight and exercise regularly). Stop smoking if you smoke and reduce your alcohol intake. Whenever it is possible, try to reduce stress.

Biological treatments are drugs that are of biological origin and usually need to be injected. They act specifically on the immune system and target molecules or receptors that are dysregulated in psoriasis.