How Common Is Psoriasis?

Posted on January 30th, 2010

How Common Is Psoriasis? – Answer 1

Somewhere in the range of 2-4% of the world population is the figure usually given for number of Psoriasis patients. The Brit Psoriasis Association says 2-3 % of the British population suffers from Psoriasis.

May not sound like much but that 2-3% means about 7 million people here in the US alone.

Don’t know if my GP’s trying to tell me something, but 6 months ago, I went to him with ‘spots’ that started in the armpits and went down the inside of my arms and the sides of my torso. He said “all I seem to be seeing at the moment is non-specific skin conditions” (or words to that effect).

Well in fairness to him, he is a GP and that’s not a very usual pattern for Psoriasis to begin to appear like that -much more common to begin on the scalp or elbow/knee joints. So what he said isn’t really unreasonable.

Some weeks later, dermo say “me see you in 5 months” Me wonder “surely my GP must have heard of something called a NHS waiting-list, why didn’t he work on the assumption that I’ve got psoriasis, after all – he is my doctor (duh !)”

Might not have known it and he did try what sounds like a topical steroid which is a pretty common thing to try for Psoriasis along with other types of skin irritations.

Anyway, upshot – I write GP (alleged) to say “please assume I have psoriasis, me want prescription – this thing ain’t stopping for nobody”. Me now picking up prescription (chemists) tomorrow morning. Now maybe I’m just being sensitive, but I’m having such a hard time trying to delude myself that he’s never seen a case of psoriasis before. I know it’s probably just paranoia getting the better of me – and he must see a million different kinds of related things – but even then…… . Someone please tell me to get a grip of myself and stop being so paranoid. And the likelihood of a cure.

The thing is that there are other things that can look similar, especially to a non-specialist and as I said above, yours didn’t appear in a usual pattern for P. Not impossible, just not usual. And he did give you something that sounds like the topical steroid (couldn’t find daktorcote anywhere BTW. sure about that name?) that would be a common initial approach for P and a number of similar looking things.

So yeah, it’s really frustrating but it doesn’t sound like conspiracy theory territory.

How Common Is Psoriasis? – Answer 2

I personally have no faith in GP’s knowledge of psoriasis, my GP spent a year treating me for psoriasis under the false assumption that it was a yeast infection that had somehow spread to my scalp in addition to my private parts.

I’ve seen a LOT of dermatologists, I usually “dump” the ones that look/talk/act like they’re clueless about it. I’m really not afraid of dermatologist-jumping, suggest that you find a better dermatologist (I usually dump the ones that look at my psoriasis with disgust.)

I’d really suggest signing up to receive the NPF bulletins. I’ve really learnt a lot from them, now I go to my dermatologist and tell her exactly which medicines I need!!

Tags: Psoriasis Cure, Psoriasis Treatment, Psoriasis Treatments, Psorisis Cure, Psorisis Treatment
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