Opportunities for earlier diagnosis of psoriasis in general practice

<p>In this episode, we talk to Maha Abo-Tabik, a doctoral research student at the Global Psoriasis Atlas who is based at the University of Manchester.</p><p><em>Paper: Mapping opportunities for the earlier diagnosis of psoriasis in primary care settings in the UK</em></p><p><strong>Available at: </strong><a href="https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2022.0137" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2022.0137</strong></a></p><p>Many people suffer needlessly from psoriasis due to missed or delayed diagnosis.&nbsp;Primary care professionals are most often the first point of contact for people with psoriasis.&nbsp;The diagnosis of psoriasis can be a challenging task for non-dermatologists.&nbsp;Examining electronic health records from general practices showed that the diagnosis of psoriasis may be missed or delayed.&nbsp;People with undiagnosed psoriasis (missed or delayed diagnosis) have an increased frequency of GP consultations from five years before their diagnosis of psoriasis is confirmed.&nbsp;Individuals with psoriasis are often prescribed topical corticosteroids and/or topical antifungal medications before being diagnosed with psoriasis. These medications may mask the signs of psoriasis.</p>