Young people with the skin condition, psoriasis, are being encouraged to talk freely about the condition in order to increase awareness of its causes and treatments.

Around 100,000 people in Ireland have psoriasis, which appears as pink or red raised patches on the skin. These patches, which are known as plaques, have a scaly surface and can be large or small.

Psoriasis affects adult men and women equally. However, in childhood the ratio of females to males is 2:1. It can start at any age, but often occurs in girls between the ages of five and nine, and in boys between the ages of 15 and 19.

The call was made at the launch of two new information booklets, which are aimed at young people with the condition and their parents.

Welcoming the booklets, Dr Brian Kirby, a consultant dermatologist at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, pointed out that treatments for psoriasis have moved on significantly in recent years.

"These days, people don't have to suffer needlessly with the condition. There are many effective treatments available which can manage and clear psoriasis," he said.

The main booklet, Aoife - living with psoriasis, has been developed for younger teenagers and children, particularly those newly diagnosed with psoriasis. Featuring colourful cartoons, it deals with the experiences of Aoife, a young girl who is having a difficult time in school as a result of her condition.

The second booklet, Let's talk about psoriasis, is aimed at the parents of young patients and dispels the myths around the condition. It gives parents, teachers, sports coaches and friends of those with psoriasis ideas on helping young patients deal with everyday situations at school, home and socially.

Speaking at the launch of the booklets, Caroline Irwin, chairperson of the Psoriasis Association of Ireland, who has psoriasis herself, noted that severe psoriasis can have a ‘significant impact' on a person's quality of life.

"Many sufferers, particularly young people, feel embarrassed about their condition and anxious about the reaction of others. We hope these booklets will send the message to those with psoriasis that the condition can be treated, allowing them to live a normal life," she said.

The launch was also attended by 15-year-old Eileen Woods, a student from Kilkenny, who has lived with psoriasis for a number of years.

"These booklets will help raise awareness about psoriasis and hopefully let young people with the condition know that they are not alone," she added.

The launch of the booklets is supported by the Psoriasis Association of Ireland and Pfizer Healthcare Ireland. They are available from the Psoriasis Association. See www.psoriasisireland.ie

For more information on the skin condition, see also our Psoriasis Clinic here