People with severe skin disorders may benefit from psychological treatment, a new study indicates.

Researchers looked at 141 people with psoriasis, a skin condition which currently affects around 100,000 people in Ireland. They found that many of those questioned had been stigmatised by others who incorrectly thought they could 'catch' psoriasis from them.

The anxiety experienced by some of the people in the study also led to their condition worsening. Others said they had considered suicide due to their ill treatment by people who did not understand the condition.

The researchers found that using psychological approaches, designed to reduce social anxiety, could help people with psoriasis to increase their self-esteem. This was especially important for people who had the condition on a more visible part of the body, such as the face.

The scientists did emphasise however that, as the sample was small, further studies would be required. The results of this research can be found in the latest edition of the 'British Journal of Clinical Psychology'.

Psoriasis results in pink or red raised patches, also known as plaques, developing on the skin. These have a well-defined edge and a scaly surface. Psoriasis is not infectious.