Fast Facts about Psoriasis

 

Psoriasis is often not even considered in children because the average age of onset is 28 years.

Fast Facts about Psoriasis

Roughly 210 million people suffer from psoriasis worldwide (i.e., 3% of the world’s population)[1]; approximately 7.5 million people suffer from psoriasis in the United States.

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, between 150,000 and 260,000 new cases are identified each year in the United States.

10% to 20% of people with psoriasis also experience the swollen hands and feet of psoriatic arthritis.[2]

People with severe psoriasis have a 50% increased risk of mortality. Patients with severe psoriasis die 3.5-4.4 years younger than patients without psoriasis.[3]

In the United States, $11.25 billion is spent on psoriasis every year.[4]

For children whose psoriasis is triggered by throat infections, or made worse following strep or impetigo, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may be an option.[5]

People who bathe in the salt water of the Dead Sea in natural sunlight have been noted to have dramatic improvement of their psoriasis.

 


[1] Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2013) 133, 377–385; doi:10.1038/jid.2012.339; published online 27 September 2012
[2] http://www.cdc.gov/psoriasis/
[3] Gelfand JM, Troxel AB, Lewis JD, et al. The risk of mortality in patients with psoriasis: results from a population-based study. Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:1493—9.
[4] http://www.psoriasis.org/document.doc?id=354
[5] J Immunol. 2012 May 15;188(10):5160-5. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102834. Epub 2012 Apr 9.

Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.

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  1. kimberly

    i have these red itchey spots on both my legs and both my arms they ich and they look like scars cant seem to get rid of them tried everything what can i do

    Added:

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