OVER 70,000 people in Ireland are living with psoriasis – a condition that can be both painful and stigmatising.
There are long waiting lists for access to treatment for skin conditions, with almost 40,000 people waiting on treatment.
The 73,000 Irish people living with psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disorder, make up much of this number.
The immune condition causes symptoms on the skin and sometimes the joints.
Psoriasis is also closely related to multiple other autoimmune conditions like psoriatic arthritis, therefore ongoing management is vital to reduce inflammation that could lead to other diseases.
For many people living with psoriasis, access to specialist dermatology care is a critical step in taking control of their condition but many are experiencing significant delays.
The urgent need for support during this waiting period is underlined by the fact that psoriasis has been shown to be much more than just a skin condition.
It is highly visible, and can be stigmatising, which is partly why the psychological and social impact can be so damaging.
Now a new podcast aims to offer advice and medical expertise to those living with the condition.
Hosted by Newstalk broadcaster, Dr Ciara Kelly, PsO Let’s Talk Psoriasis is the first series of its kind to offer access to guidance from leading healthcare professionals to help people manage their psoriasis while they wait to access specialist care.
Here Dr Maeve McAleer, who is Consultant Dermatologist, St. James’s Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland, also features on the podcast, along with other experts.
Here she answers some common questions about psoriasis in kids.
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1. What is psoriasis? What causes it in children, and what are the signs to look out for?
Psoriasis is a common skin disease. It affects approximately 1 per cent of children and 2-4 per cent of adults.
Both genetic (inherited) and environmental factors play a role in the development of psoriasis.
Environmental triggers that can flare psoriasis include infections, stress, damage to the skin, and certain medications. Psoriasis plaques are typically well defined, raised, pink or red, and have silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis can also affect the nails and joints as well.
2. I’m a parent – what should I do if I notice the signs just mentioned?
The parent should make an appointment with their General Practitioner.
Mild disease can be successfully managed by their General Practitioner with topical medicines (treatment applied to the
surface of the skin).
3. What is the outlook like for a child diagnosed with psoriasis these days?
The outlook is excellent. There are several effective treatments to control the disease.
4. What types of treatments are available?
Treatment of psoriasis depends on the extent of the rash and how much the disease impacts on the patient. Topical treatments alone are sufficient for most patients. For more difficult disease phototherapy (light treatment), tablet treatment or injection treatment can be prescribed.
5. Beyond treatment, is there anything else that parents can do with their children to control their psoriasis?
There is some evidence that people with psoriasis may be more likely to be overweight and have a risk of other health issues including heart problems later in life.
It is, therefore, helpful to encourage our children and young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle: eat a balanced diet, exercise and maintain a healthy weight.
It is also important to talk to our teenagers about the negative effects of smoking and alcohol on psoriasis and discourage those behaviours.
Finally, having psoriasis can affect how you feel about yourself. In some children and young people this can be associated with avoiding everyday activities, low confidence and embarrassment.
It is important that we encourage our young people to share their concerns with us, and that they know many treatments are available to control their psoriasis.
6. As a visible condition, psoriasis can cause children stress and anxiety. Do you have any advice as to to talk to people about it?
Parents and children should inform teachers and friends that they have psoriasis, that this conditionis a common skin condition, and is not infectious (cannot be ‘caught’).
Teachers are very helpful in helping our children and young people cope and adapt to their skin condition. The support of friends
is also so valuable.
Speaking about the podcast, host Dr Ciara Kelly said: “As a GP, I have treated people living with psoriasis for many years, but I was still surprised to learn through this series about the many ways people are affected by this multi-faceted condition.
“Many people living with psoriasis are desperately seeking quality, reliable information from the experts, and this series fulfils that need while they wait to see a specialist.”
The PsO Let’s Talk Psoriasis video and podcast series by Janssen Sciences Ireland is available free of charge online with four episodes released on a weekly basis throughout May 2022.
The podcast audio versions are also available wherever you access your podcasts.
