From the Community: Psoriasis Across the Ages

In our Psoriasis In America 2017 survey, we asked participants “At what age did you first experience psoriasis-related symptoms or symptoms which you later identified as being related to psoriasis? We also asked, "at approximately what age were you diagnosed with psoriasis?" 24% of respondents to the survey started experiencing symptoms before the age of 15 and 17% received their diagnosis of psoriasis before the age of 15 years old.

To get to know the PlaquePsoriasis.com community better we asked, "At what age were you first diagnosed with psoriasis?" Below is a look at the results from community members who responded to our prompt! Take a look to see where you fit in with our results.

Psoriasis in infants, children and teens

Psoriasis that affects children and teens is called pediatric psoriasis. The number of children and teens diagnosed with psoriasis has doubled in the past 50 years or so.¹ Around 1 in 3 people are diagnosed before the age of 20 years, and 1 in 4 people are diagnosed before the age of 2 years. The average age for developing pediatric psoriasis is around 8-11 years.²

18% of community members who responded to our prompt shared that they were diagnosed before age 10 and about 25% were diagnosed between 10 and 15 years old. Many community members shared that while they were diagnosed at a younger age, they are still actively struggling with managing their psoriasis, 20+ years later.

• "I was diagnosed at birth...about to turn 55 this Friday! My father came down with it when I was born, my daughter got it at 19 (now 27) and my brother was in his early 40's when he got it (now 52)."
• "When I was in 2nd grade, so I probably just turned 8 years old. Its been a very long 23 years dealing with this."
• "I think around 10, now I'm 48 and it sucks!"

Over 18 years old

While people of all ages can develop psoriasis, around one-third of people are diagnosed with psoriasis before the age of 20, and around three-quarters of people are diagnosed before the age of 40.

42% of our community members responding to our prompt were diagnosed with psoriasis somewhere between the ages of 18 and 49. People in this age range discussed the challenges of the progression of the disease as many were experiencing psoriatic arthritis in addition to their psoriasis.

• "I was 18. Luckily it was after I was out of school. Got real bad real fast."
• "Diagnosed at 19, it has gotten worse with age- I'm now 38. Is started on my elbows and knees now it's everywhere."
• "Diagnosed in mid 20's but had it since I was young just no one figured it out I guess. Now have psoriatic arthritis and it's miserable."
• "Diagnosed at 46, which was about 4 years ago. Got bad REALLY fast...have arthritis now. Have tried 5 different meds...no help really."

Diagnosed over 50 years old

Some individuals, who have never had the condition before will develop it for the first time between the ages of 50 and 60. 13% of community members who responded to our prompt were diagnosed in their 50's, 60's or even their 70's.

• "I was first diagnosed at approximately 54"
• "I was diagnosed at 70 years old!"