NICE launches new standards of psoriasis care

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced new standards for the quality of care for people with psoriasis in order to improve the quality of treatment these patients receive.

Under the new guidelines, people being treated for the irritable skin condition should be offered the chance to see a doctor or other health professional each year to check for signs of psoriatic arthritis, a related disease that affects the joints.

Psoriasis patients should also be checked for signs of heart problems at least once every five years as part of the strategy, while assessments should be held to determine how the disease has affected them physically, psychologically and socially.

Professor Gillian Leng, director of health and social care at NICE, said: "Our new quality standard, which is primarily aimed at GPs but also relevant to hospital specialists, aims to encourage the highest standards of care."

More than 1.3 million people in the UK are currently living with psoriasis, with many suffering from low self-esteem, anxiety and depression as a result.

It can start at any age, but most often develops between the ages of 11 and 45.