Interview transcription:

We interviewed Penelope Pratsou to learn about the time and costs associated with psoriasis.

How long does psoriasis treatment take and what are the costs associated with psoriasis treatment?

Penelope Pratsou: Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition. Therefore, you may or may not need to be seen regularly for an extended period of time. It’s difficult to say how long the treatment would take. What I often aim to do is address the problem at hand on the first consultation. I would spend a long time discussing the issue on the first consultation and seeing what we can do to get it under control as early as possible.

It may be possible, in fact, to try to really tackle it on that first consultation and the weeks after that. It would also depend on how severe your psoriasis is. If your condition is at a stage where we are thinking more about treatments with light therapy, phototherapy, or tablets, then you might need to come and see me on a regular basis. We would then get to know each other very well indeed!

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That spills on to the question about cost. It could be a simple matter of a couple of consultations, and the cost of your prescription. Or, it might be that we have to consider the consultation, the treatments, and blood tests because some of these treatments mean that you might need some blood monitoring on a regular basis. I would need to have a look, assess the situation and explain what the treatment would involve.

If you notice that you have any of the symptoms or conditions that we’ve just discussed, we invite you to book a consultation with Dr Penelope Pratsou. She’ll be able to assess your situation and give you a personalised treatment plan.

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About the author

Dr Penelope Pratsou | Consultant Dermatologist

MBChB, MRCP (UK) (Dermatology)

I’m Dr Penelope Pratsou, a skilled independent Consultant Dermatologist based in Berkshire. I have specialist expertise in the diagnosis and management of all skin cancers, and in performing mole checks. I’m a trained skin surgeon and remove skin cancers, moles, skin tags, cysts and warts.

I also have invaluable experience in dealing with all skin conditions, from the common skin complaints of acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis, to the rarer and more complex skin problems, having seen it all through years of NHS work.

After I obtained my Membership to the Royal College of Physicians, I undertook rigorous specialist training in dermatology, before being appointed as a Consultant Dermatologist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. There, I helped set up and lead a busy clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of suspected skin cancer. I was also actively involved in supervising and training both dermatology and GP trainees.

Alongside my increasingly busy private practice, I have maintained an NHS practice in Oxford in order to continue to engage with challenging cases and to develop my specialist interest in skin allergy.