1 September 2015 - Australians with severe psoriasis are about to have affordable access to a new medicine for the debilitating skin condition.

Cosentyx, which costs $20,000 a year, will be reimbursed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Tuesday.

More than half-a-million Australians have psoriasis, while up to 12,000 have the most serious form of the disease.

Sydney-based dermatologist, Dr John Sullivan, said people with severe psoriasis often experience serious and ongoing flare-ups of red and inflamed skin across different parts of the body.

"Many of these people may be eligible for treatment with Cosentyx, which is a new class of medicine that blocks a specific protein that triggers the underlying inflammation responsible for psoriasis."

He said the illness was far more than a cosmetic issue and could have a profound psychological and social impact on people with the condition.

For more details, go to: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/skin-disease-treatment-now-on-pbs/story-e6frfku9-1227505986120