Psoriasis

[Sarah Buchan]

Dear Gill,

Many thanks for posting your question. I'm sorry to hear that your son is experiencing these symptoms and I hope my advice will be helpful for you both.

There are usually 3 treatment options for psoriasis;

1) topical (creams / ointments / gels which can be applied directly to the skin)
2) phototherapy (where the skin is exposed to certain types of UV rays)
3) systemic (oral or injectable medicines which work through the whole body)

These treatment options may be used in combination to achieve the desired outcome for each patient.

You mentioned your son has had one course of light therapy - was this successful in clearning the psoriatic plaques from the skin even though they have now returned?

Depending on the age of your son, a systemic treatment may now also be considered. There are both biologic and non-biologic preparations available, these work in different ways but there is increasing evidence for their use.

My advice to you and your son would be to book an appointment with your GP (who may refer you to a dermatologist) to create a treatment plan for managing your son's psoriasis. This way, the condition can be regularly reviewed and treatment modified if needed.

I wish you all the best.

Kindest regards,

Saraah

[Samphire]

My Son has a Psoriasis type rash across his nose and face. His Aunt has similar, but she has Arthritis and Lupus linked to hers. Does this mean my Son may have similar, or may get Lupus or the Arthritis? Can it run in Families?

[Justine Greenwood]

Hello Samphire,

Thank you for your post. I can imagine how concerning this must be to you.

Firstly to help me understand, how old is your son? Has he had the condition diagnosed by a GP or specialist? What treatment does he currently use? Is it just his face affected?

There are many different types of psoriasis and many different factors that cause it. I think that for your and your son's peace of mind, the best thing to do is consult with the GP for diagnosis and advice. If you already have had a diagnosis, I will be happy to help answer your questions further, if you could reply and give me a little bit more detail about his condition.

There is a website by the psoriasis Association especially for children and teenagers; perhaps this might be useful for your son to look at? It discusses the symptoms of psoriasis and specific information for young people. The website address is: http://www.psoteen.org.uk/

Kind regards,

Justine