The hospital-based prevalence study done in 2016 showed that in India, between 7 to 43 million people had psoriasis 3,4 . Chances are that this number has grown. For psoriasis patients, the need is for their treatment to give them clear or almost clear skin quickly. They also want their skin to remain clear for as long as possible.
A Senior Dermatologist in Jaipur speaks on the condition, ‘’I see around 40-50 psoriasis patients every month, and some of them present skin patches with itching, however, it isn’t the same in others. Patients begin treatment with the hope of a complete cure. Although, it is important to counsel them on the chronic nature of the disease. Treatment options like biologics are the way forward as they offer increased efficacy and less intense side effects. I advise my patients to be actively involved in their treatment process and seek clarity about the most suitable therapeutic option for them. Patients should understand the disease, its nature, and the ways to manage it effectively so that they can improve their quality of life.’’
Psoriasis is a chronic auto-immune disorder of the skin in which prolonged inflammation gives rise to dry, thick, raised, red patches on the skin that continuously shed silvery scales 5,6,7 . The skin patches are accompanied by unstoppable itching and sometimes pain. The itching and the pain can make it difficult for patients to even tolerate everyday clothes 8,9,10 . Itching interferes with sleep and affects productivity in 31% patients 11 . Those with severe psoriasis are prone to depression and may even develop suicidal tendencies 12 . About 7-42% of psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful condition of joints 13. The impact of psoriasis on the quality of life of patients is comparable to serious diseases such as heart failure and cancer 14 .
Recent studies show that this inflammatory process in psoriasis is not limited to skin and joints but can be present in the entire body. This can increase the risk of several diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney diseases and inflammatory bowel disease 15-18 . There is no single cause identified for this condition, but there are a number of contributing factors: genetic risk, environmental triggers such as certain infections, obesity, stress, some drugs, and injury 19,20 . Advanced treatment with new biologics meets patient expectations of rapid and complete skin clearance for a longer duration 21,22,23 .