Takeda’s Commitment to Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Takeda's Commitment to Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic diseases that occur when multiple immune signals become overactive and cause inflammation in the body.1-2 Plaque psoriasis can cause itchy and/or painful plaques (raised, hardened, and/or thickened patches of skin), which can affect many aspects of a person’s life beyond the skin.1,3-4 Psoriatic arthritis affects up to 30% of people living with psoriasis and can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness and chronic inflammation, which can lead to joint damage that cannot be reversed.5-6 Together, these conditions are known as psoriatic disease and can affect many parts of daily life, including how people move, feel, work, spend time with others and everyday activities.4,7
Takeda is committed to advancing our understanding of psoriatic disease and addressing the needs that matter most to the people living with these complex, heterogeneous conditions.8
Living with Psoriatic Disease
This article features patients sharing their personal experiences and is available to the public for disease awareness purposes only. Individual experiences may vary. This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice. The individuals featured on this page and throughout this website have received compensation from Takeda for their participation.
Everyone’s experience with psoriatic disease is different. Hear real stories from people living with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis as they share their journeys, from diagnosis to advocacy for others.
Michelle’s story: Discovering strength through her psoriasis journey
Michelle shares how psoriatic disease has affected her life, including times when she felt she had to hide her condition, and how writing has helped her work through her experiences.
Shatoya’s psoriasis journey: More than a diagnosis
After being misdiagnosed as a child, Shatoya experienced the lasting impact of psoriasis on her confidence, relationships and mental well-being. Hear how support from loved ones and the psoriasis community helped her feel less alone.
Matt’s story: Finding community and purpose with psoriasis
Discover how patient advocacy and building connections with the psoriasis community has given Matt strength and helped turn his experience with psoriatic disease into a source of purpose.
Patient Resources for Psoriatic Disease
These resources are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Some resources may be available or appropriate only in certain countries and do not represent an exhaustive list of available resources. Takeda does not endorse any specific organization or service and is not responsible for the content of external sites or services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plaque psoriasis is a chronic disease that occurs when multiple immune signals become overactive, leading to inflammation beneath the skin and itchy and/or painful plaques (raised, hardened, and/or thickened patches of skin) on the surface of the skin that can significantly affect quality of life.3-4,8-9 Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, affecting 80%-90% of people with psoriasis and can appear anywhere on the skin.1,10
No, psoriasis is not contagious and cannot spread person to person from touching, hugging or spending time with someone who has psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that occurs when multiple immune signals become overactive and cause inflammation in the body.1-2 Genetics and environmental factors may also play a role in psoriasis.3,11
Psoriasis can develop anywhere on the skin but most commonly affects the scalp, arms and elbows, face, knees and legs, and torso (trunk).1,12 Psoriasis may also affect highly visible and/or sensitive areas, also known as high-impact sites, which include the scalp, face, nails, hands, genitals, skin folds and feet. These areas can be particularly challenging to manage and can result in reduced quality of life and greater overall disease burden because of friction, pressure, environmental exposure or management challenges.8,12-13
In some people, the impact of psoriasis goes beyond the skin.3 Psoriasis is often associated with social stigma, social isolation, limitations in daily activities, disrupted sleep, and may contribute to high rates of anxiety and depression.3,9,14 Persistent itch, the appearance and location of skin lesions – especially in highly visible or sensitive areas – and related conditions, like psoriatic arthritis, may play a major role in reducing quality of life and can lead to significant impacts on daily living.8-9
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease, meaning immune system signals become overactive, leading to the development of itchy and/or painful plaques.3-4,8-9 Genetics and environmental factors may also play a role in psoriasis.3,11
Psoriasis is a complex, heterogeneous disease that can look and feel different from person to person.8 It can also change over time, particularly in high-impact sites that are difficult to treat, such as the scalp, face, nails, hand, genitals, skin folds and feet.8 These differences are driven by complex interactions among immune pathways (the body’s disease fighting processes), genetics and environmental factors.3-4,8,12-13
Psoriatic arthritis may cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints.2,5,6 Over time, chronic inflammation may result in permanent joint damage that cannot be reversed, which may make it harder to move or do everyday activities.2,5-6,15-16
Psoriatic arthritis is chronic disease that occurs when multiple immune signals become overactive, leading to inflammation that leads to pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints.2,5,6 Genetics and environmental factors may also play a role in psoriatic arthritis.2
A person can develop psoriatic arthritis without having psoriasis, although it is relatively uncommon.17 Research suggests that fewer than 10% of people living with psoriatic arthritis do not have psoriasis skin symptoms.17
Psoriasis is often associated with social stigma, social isolation, limitations in daily activities, disrupted sleep, and may contribute to high rates of anxiety and depression.3,9,14 Psoriatic arthritis can also affect daily life through pain, fatigue, disrupted sleep and difficulty moving, which may make everyday activities harder and can affect emotional well-being and quality of life.15-16
- Dhabale A, Nagpure S. Types of psoriasis and their effects on the immune system. Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29536.
- Deeb M, Maher L. Psoriatic Arthritis. [Updated 2026 Apr 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547710/.
- Langley RGB, Krueger GG, Griffiths CEM. Psoriasis: epidemiology, clinical features, and quality of life. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64(Suppl 2):ii18–23.
- Bhosle MJ, Kulkarni A, Feldman SR, et al. Quality of life in patients with psoriasis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2006;4:35.
- Ponikowska M, Vellone E, Czapla M, Uchmanowicz I. Challenges Psoriasis and Its Impact on Quality of Life: Challenges in Treatment and Management. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2025;15:175-183.
- American College of Rheumatology. Psoriatic arthritis. Available at: https://rheumatology.org/patients/psoriatic-arthritis. Last accessed: October 2026.
- Armstrong AW, Bohannan B, Mburu S, et al. Patient Perspectives on Psoriatic Disease Burden: Results from the Global Psoriasis and Beyond Survey. Dermatology. 2023;239(4):621-634.
- Lupulescu AM, Savu AP, Bucur , et al. Hard-to-Treat Areas in Psoriasis: An Underevaluated Part of the Disease. Life (Basel). 2025;15(3):425. Published 2025 Mar 7. doi:10.3390/life15030425.
- Taliercio VL, Snyder AM, Webber LB, et al. The disruptiveness of itchiness from psoriasis: a qualitative study of the impact of a single symptom on quality of life. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(6):42-48.
- Mehta S, Sathe NC. Plaque psoriasis. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed July 23, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430879/.
- Griffiths CEM, Armstrong AW, Gudjonsson JE, et al. Psoriasis. Lancet. 2021;397(10281):1301-1315. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32549-6.
- Dopytalska K, Sobolewski P, Błaszczak A, et al. Psoriasis in special localizations. Reumatologia. 2018;56(6):392-398. doi:10.5114/reum.2018.80718.
- Butacu A-I, Toma C, Negulet I-E, et al. Updates on Psoriasis in Special Areas. J Clin Med. 2024; 13(24):7549. doi.org/10.3390/jcm13247549.
- Blackstone B, Patel R, Bewley A. Assessing and improving psychological well-being in psoriasis: considerations for the clinician. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2022;12:25-33. doi:10.2147/PTT.S3284.
- James L, Hailey LH, Suribhatla R, et al. The impact of psoriatic arthritis on quality of life: a systematic review. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2024;16:1759720X241295920. Published 2024 Dec 22. doi:10.1177/1759720X241295920
- Frede N, Hiestand S, Schauer F, et al. Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Have a Major Impact on Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study of 300 Patients. Rheumatol Ther. 2023;10(6):1655-1668. doi:10.1007/s40744-023-00602-9
- Huo A-P, Liao P-L and Leong P-Y, et al. From psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis: epidemiological insights from a retrospective cohort study of 74,046 patients. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024;11:1419722. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1419722.