Psoriasis around the world
Psoriasis is a widely prevalent, chronic, systemic, immune-mediated disease that impacts at least 100 million people worldwide.1 The global community of individuals living with this autoimmune disease experiences significant disparities in the time and effort to receive a definitive diagnosis and treatment.
Psoriasis: Real life experiences
Increased education on the clinical presentation of psoriasis and treatment options may help healthcare professionals better diagnose and treat this disease.
Explore stories from around the globe. Click on the pins on the map to learn more about the diverse stories of living with psoriasis.
All patients and healthcare providers featured were compensated for their time.
Psoriasis health risks:
More than skin deep
People living with psoriasis have an elevated risk of developing other serious conditions. Up to 30% will ultimately develop psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that causes stiffness and pain in joints.18 Additionally, individuals with psoriasis have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, kidney disease and cancer, among others.2
Understanding the burden of psoriasis
Psoriasis can affect different parts of the body and is associated with comorbidities that may impact patients’ overall health and well-being.1,3,4
Explore common locations and potential comorbidities of psoriasis:
Scalp
More than 60% of people living with psoriasis are affected, with psoriasis presenting as red patches and silvery white scales that flake and may be mistaken for dandruff.5, 6
Face
Approximately 50% of people living with psoriasis are affected, with lesions appearing as red scaly plaques.7
Ears
Plaques can flake off and block the ear canal that may lead to temporary hearing loss.8
Skinfolds
Approximately 21%-30% of people living with psoriasis have inverse psoriasis, developing in skin folds like armpits, the navel and genitals.5
Elbows and knees
Psoriasis can lead to dry, itchy, raised skin patches (plaques) covered with scales on the elbows and knees.9
Fingernails and toenails
Approximately 20%–40% of people living with plaque psoriasis develop psoriasis on their fingernails and/or toes, resulting in dents/ridges, discoloration and separation of nail from the nail bed.5, 10
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
People living with psoriasis are at an increased risk of hypertension and are approximately 50% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, especially those with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.11-13
Metabolic syndrome
Approximately 20-50% of people living with psoriasis are impacted by metabolic syndrome, which may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.14, 15
High cholesterol and obesity
People living with psoriasis are at an increased risk of high cholesterol and obesity, with a higher risk associated for those with moderate-to-severe disease.2, 16, 17
Type 2 diabetes
There is a significant association between type 2 diabetes and mild-to-moderate psoriasis.16
Inflammatory bowel disease
People living with psoriasis are at an increased risk for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.12, 19
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is the most common psoriasis comorbidity, which affects up to 30% of patients diagnosed with psoraisis.2, 18
Mental health
People living with psoriasis are approximately 39% more likely to be diagnosed with depression and approximately 31% more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety. 20
Scalp
Face
Ears
Skinfolds
Elbows and knees
Fingernails and toenails
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
Metabolic syndrome
High cholesterol and obesity
Type 2 diabetes
Inflammatory bowel disease
Psoriatic arthritis
Mental health
How psoriasis is different for people of color
Psoriasis presents differently in skin of color, which can lead to misdiagnoses and going undiagnosed more frequently in people of color. Specifically, psoriasis is typically described as redness on lighter skin, but on skin of color, the discoloration can present as shades of purple, gray or dark brown, and the plaques can be thicker. 21
Click each card to learn more.
How much more likely are people of color to require a skin biopsy to receive diagnosis?
People of color are
4x
more likely to require a skin biopsy to diagnose the disease.22
What types of psoriasis are found in people of color?
Rare
types of psoriasis tend to be more common among Asian, Hispanic and Black communities.23-25
Do people of color have a slower path to diagnosis?
Yes, white people receive a definitive diagnosis
3x
faster than people of color.22
Resources
Information and support if you or someone you know is living with psoriasis.
References:
1. World Health Organization. Global Report on Psoriasis. World Health Organization; 2016. Accessed October 6, 2023. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/204417. 2. National Psoriasis Foundation. Related conditions of psoriasis. Accessed: October 2, 2023. https://www.psoriasis.org/related-conditions/. 3. Oliveira M, Rocha B, Duarte GV. Psoriasis: classical and emerging comorbidities. An Bras Dermatol. 2015; 90(1):0-20. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153038. 4. Neimann AL, Shin DB, Wang X, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55(5), 829–835. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2006.08.040. 5. Merola JF, Li T, Li WQ, et al. Prevalence of psoriasis phenotypes among men and women in the USA. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016 Jul;41(5):486-489. doi:10.1111/ced.12805. 6. Aldredge LM, Higham RC. Manifestations and Management of Difficult-to-Treat Psoriasis. J Dermatol Nurses Assoc. 2018;(4)10:189–197. doi:10.1097/JDN.0000000000000418. 7. Canpolat F, Cemil BC, Eskioğlu F, et al. Is facial involvement a sign of severe psoriasis? Eur J Dermatol. 2008;18(2):169-171. doi:10.1684/ejd.2008.0363. 8. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis on the Face. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriasis-on-the-face/. 9. Nair PA, Badri T. Psoriasis. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; April 3, 2023. 10. Augustin M, Reich K, Blome C, et al. Nail psoriasis in Germany: Epidemiology and burden of disease. Br J Dermatol. 2010;163(3):580-585. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09831.x. 11. Garshick MS, Ward NL, Krueger JG, et al. Cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis: JACC review topic of the week. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(13):1670-1680. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.02.009. 12. Augustin M, Reich K, Glaeske G, et al. Co-morbidity and age-related prevalence of psoriasis: Analysis of health insurance data in Germany. Acta Derm Venereol. 2010;90(2):147-151. doi:10.2340/00015555-0770. 13. Armstrong AW, Harskamp CT, Armstrong EJ. The association between psoriasis and hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. J Hypertens. 2013;31(3):433-442. doi:10.1097/HJH.0b013e32835bcce1. 14. Gisondi P, Fostini AC, Fossà I, et al. Psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome. Clin Dermatol. 2018;36(1):21-28. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2017.09.005. 15. American Heart Association. What is Metabolic Syndrome? Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome/about-metabolic-syndrome. 16. Armstrong A, Harksamp CT, Armstron EJ. The association between psoriasis and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Nutr & Diabetes. 2012;2(12): e54. doi: 10.1038/nutd.2012.26. 17. Al-Mutairi N, Al-Farag S, Al-Mutairi A, et al. Comorbidities associated with psoriasis: An experience from the Middle East. J Dermatol. 2010;37(2):146-155. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2009.00777.x. 18. Mease, PJ, Gladman, DD, Papp, KA, et al. (2013). Prevalence of rheumatologist-diagnosed psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis in European/North American dermatology clinics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;69(5), 729-735. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.07.023. 19. Cohen AD, Dreiher J, Birkenfeld S. Psoriasis associated with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009;23(5):561-565. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2008.03031.x. 20. Kurd SK, Troxel AB, Crits-Christoph, et al. The risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in patients with psoriasis: a population-based cohort study. Arch Dermatol. 2010;146(8):891-895. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2010.186. 21. National Psoriasis Foundation. Why is psoriasis often misdiagnosed in skin of color? Accessed July 14, 2023. https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/psoriasis-misdiagnosed-in-skin-of-color/. 22. Dickerson T, Pratt A, O-Quinn M, et al. Racial disparities in the diagnosis of psoriasis. Cutis. 2022;110(suppl 2):26-28. doi:10.12788/cutis.0576. 23. Shah M, Al Aboud DM, Crane JS, Kumar S. Pustular Psoriasis. StatPearls (Internet). StatPearls Publishing; Updated August 8, 2023. Accessed: October 2, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537002/. 24. Yan D, Afifi L, Jeon C, Cordoro KM, Liao W. A cross-sectional study of the distribution of psoriasis subtypes in different ethno-racial groups. Dermatol Online J. 2018;24(7):13030/qt5z21q4k2. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5z21q4k2. 25. Kaufman BP, Alexis AF. Psoriasis in skin of color: insights into the epidemiology, clinical presentation, genetics, quality-of-life impact, and treatment of psoriasis in non-white racial/ethnic groups. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(3):405–423. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0332-7.