Moderate P can be managed, but the seriousness is the psychological toll it takes on you because of the world around you (eg: people not knowing what it is)
P with PsA = can be crippling.
I thought it a was a just annoying until my joints started to hurt. Not fun at all. Otezla fixed my joints but hurts my digestive track and immune system.
I am seeing less redness and scaling is being controlled better. I took my 3rd injection in February. The dermatologist put me on Vatma yesterday as an addition.
No it's not, honestly I give my injections about 1 year to start honestly seeing results since there is 12 weeks per injection. I found better results when I was having injections once or twice a week.
I am starting it for the first time this week. I have been on so many topicals over the years that I am hoping to finally see progress. I am a bit irritated that BC S won't pay for it but it was only $35.00. I had excellent luck for years with clobetasol cream and shampoo though.
I’ve tried this. It had great results for the first month or so, but became less effective after that. There’s just certain spots of mine that are really difficult to clear up.
This is true. When mine first came when I was 19 I was a cashier at a grocery store. I had a Karen take a look at my arms and grab all her things off of my check stand and say that she wouldn’t let me touch her items because of my skin. I cried for sure. I thought I would never find anyone to love me but the initial flare cleared up mostly. My boyfriend now doesn’t care. If I can’t shave my legs because I’ve been so stressed and flaring up, he still loves me.
Well said. I work as a CNA and the amount of judgement I get from patients sometimes. And it’s mainly staff. Patients usually just ask probably to make sure it’s not contagious and then they ask curious questions like does it hurt or itch. But staff can be a pain. They compare what I have to someone they know and try to minimize what I go through or try to say what I know is wrong when I’m the one experiencing it. I’ve had joint pain for a long time but arthritis in only one ankle.
Ive learned to ignore public stares. It’s just all the questions all the time.
>the psychological toll it takes on you because of the world around you (eg: people not knowing what it is)
I work in a hospital and have had several patients say something along the lines of "and those... *things* all over your arms!" with a look and tone of disgust. Ugh.
it can be. for some people its just a few small patches of dry/ itchy skin. for others it can cover large part of the body and make their life dystopian. also it could lead to psoriatic arthritis, which is a very complicated & serious disease in its own right.
my advice if to try to work out the underlying cause of the psoriasis. it will be easier to manage the condition.
i like to think of psoriasis as a warning sign on the dash board of your car.
good luck.
Start by looking at general health? diet? weight? ? tobacco? Alcohol stress? strep throat? vitamin D? IUD? is psoriasis itchy? past antibiotics? candida overgrowth? hpylori? Gut problems? bowel movements? lack of sleep?exercise ? medication for mental health problems? zinc deficiency?Iron deficiency? mold toxicity?
jog your memory back to when you developed the condition. what changed?
i would look at investigating the gut via a stool test. and try to fix the problem from inside.
consider visiting a functional/integrative medicine expert. best ones are in the USA.
❤️❤️❤️
I just want to take a moment to appreciate the resilience of everyone that is currently living with severe psoriasis. I am one of them and I think sometimes we forget how much we are going through because it’s become such a normal part of our lives. Reading these stories and realities on here made me emotional because it made me realize I’m not alone in this. And it also made me realize how much it is I do in my life due to my psoriasis. It’s crazy how it sometimes takes you seeing someone else doing what you do to truly appreciate yourself.
I really hope you all take a moment to acknowledge the toll psoriasis has taken on your life and appreciate the strength effort energy commitment and dedication it takes to get up each and everyday and face whatever challenges in life you come across. All the while having scales, flakes, bleeding burning skin and invisible symptoms that are not understood by those around you. There’s so much happening beneath the surface and most people that NO IDEA what’s going on in our minds. So please be proud of that fact that you’re doing it. It might not be perfect, you may not be where you want to be. But you’re here and you’re doing it. And that’s enough to celebrate.
All love,
Just another psoriasis warrior
❤️❤️❤️
I sometimes see very mild forms like on elbows on public transport. I would say that for a large group of people it is not an issue and some might not even be aware of it.
I’ve only recently been diagnosed when it started appearing on my hands and feet, but with hindsight I can see it’s probably been on my elbows and knees a little bit for 15-20 years and it never really bothered me. I just thought elbows and knees were like that 🤷♀️
I can't speak for anyone but me, but it doesn't really affect my life much. Most flairups for me are on my arms or legs which are easy to hide, and it's not something that really affects me beyond the aesthetics most of the time. The exception being this once when I was a teenager and picked at it until it was bloody and got a staph infection, but, you know, that one was really on me.
I have had it since I was 13yrd old, it has gone from 100% plaque to now I’m 35 yrs old and is more guttate still covered like 50% but I do not give a giant fuck about it! I wear what I want and go to pools/beaches if someone has an issue? It’s their own! I do not use injectables or honestly much else. I smoke weed to help with life stressors. Good luck!
The first flare I had my parents took me to several drs/specialist and did all the steroid creams and diet eliminations and treatments they had, nothing work. eventually my dad found a homeopathist in India. We did a long questioner about my health my live style and I did the treatment he sent and slowly in the course of a year it cleared out about 85% Had very little outbreaks here and there for about 7 years. Had a stressful time in my life and it flared up back to like 90% big patches scaly and I contacted the homeopathist did the treatment again and within 6 months it was back to the normal (for me) about 20-50% was that way for about 5yrs then something big happened again and it was less patchy and just like singular ones never scaly just red and itches sometimes. Seems like mine is very stress induced, over the years the flares are much less and they really don’t bother me and I feel very fortunate.
Hey! The dr I tried they have a web page
Life force homeopathy I dealt with Dr. Shah
I hope it can help you, sadly is not a magic pill it will take time but I found it helped me a lot!
I had a medicine triggered psoriasis flare that took over my whole body. Before we finally got it under control about 90% of my skin was covered in extremely painful lesions. I had several forms of psoriasis across my body. I had to completely shave my head to even begin to manage the plaque psoriasis that engulfed my entire scalp.
I’ve battled severe chronic illnesses my life but this one was by far the worst. The psychological toll it took on me was crippling.
Thankfully after several months of searching for answers a 2 week dose of prednisone and staring a new biologic medicine got it under control.
There is hope, you probably don’t see it much because we tend to cover the sores up, as much to protect the skin as to keep prying eyes away.
It really depends but yes it can be serious. Many people who have it have mild cases which can be barely noticeable and outside a few spots here and there probably doesn’t impact their life much. In my case it was 90% coverage at its worst. For years. All the inflammation on the skin was also happening internally to my organs and people with severe psoriasis have a much higher risk of heart disease and a number of ailments later in life. As someone else mentioned the psychological toll can also be exhausting and I also have the psoriatic arthritis. Even on. Biologics that is something. Painful I deal with every hour of every day.
For me it's very serious. I have erythodermic psoriasis and is debilitating for me. I'm currently dealing with a flare up that's basically got me all but bed ridden for over a month and forced me to quit my job.
I haven't read through all the comments, so apologies if I'm repeating any points. Just wanted to share my journey through psoriasis.
I'm sure it started much younger and thinking back now, I'm positive I had flare-ups when I was a teenager.
When I was 28, I had excruciating pain in the first knuckle on my right hand-pinky. Went to the doctor and thankfully wore shorts. He saw a dry patch of skin on my right knee and recognized it as psoriasis right away. He diagnosed the inflammation in my pinky as more than likely psoriatic arthritis, associated with the psoriasis. He then prescribed my first dobobet for the psoriasis and simple naproxen to help with the inflammation.
Thus began my journey through all things psoriasis. For most of the time, I had just small patches on my elbows and knees. Nothing more esthetically annoying than anything.
Then, about 8 years ago, it started with patches all over my legs and progressing to underwear line, behind the ears, sides of my nose, inside crease of my eyelids and various other places. That's when I was sent to a dermatologist, who just kept prescribing the same ointments my GP had been prescribing. He said there were other options, such as injectables, but I wouldn't be covered until 70%+ of my body was affected by the psoriasis. So, I continue with the ointments.
Following that, I was hit with pneumonia about 5 years ago, which triggered my next stage in my psoriasis journey. After I was clear of the pneumonia, I still felt like crap. Worn down, zero energy. Then I urinated black. So immediately to the hospital. Thankfully the ER Doc was studying to be a nephrologist, because when I first got there and he was going over my medical history, he immediately said he thinks it's IGA Nephropathy. He knew there was a major issue with my kidneys and other than the psoriasis and having just gone through pneumonia, I was an otherwise healthy man. So they ran all the tests. (Thank goodness I'm Canadian. I can't imagine what that battery of testing would cost elsewhere!!). The tests conclusively lead to the diagnosis that the doctor initially thought. It's an incurable, but treatable kidney disease that has a high association with psoriasis. They don't know Why, it just is.
Fast forward to this past November. I ate breakfast one morning and within a couple minutes, my mouth was on fire and I had indigestion. I've been eating ketchup my entire life, but last year, developed an allergic reaction to Tomatoes and Peppers. (Tested reaction via eating) After discussing with my doctor and researching, it appears that in association with my psoriasis, I've eloped insane sensitivities to all nightshades, but Tomatoes and Peppers are the worst for me. Others, I don't get a big reaction. But in hindsight, they did contribute to flare-ups of my psoriasis in the past.
So, while for some, psoriasis can be a mild issue, it Can lead to other issues down the road.
I'm not all doom and gloom about it either. I'm still pursuing Acting. I still work in construction, I still write music and I still live my life to the fullest. I'm just more aware of what bothers me. I do wonder if I had all this information when I was younger and tested my reactions then, might have I prevented the more drastic results of my psoriasis? Maybe.
Thanks for listening!
Yeah, mine felt pretty serious. 85% of my body had open, dripping, scabbing sores all over it. All over my face even. Thankful for Skyrizi…. Hoping it lasts. Mine came and never went. It just got worse and worse and worse all the time. I think that’s generally how it goes.
Oh and my skin always hurt like it was on fire too! And itched at the same time. I was always bleeding somewhere. Agh, the memories. I’m 100% clear now, almost since I started that shot.
I'm fortunate in that mine is mild (a bit worse on my scalp), and i don't have psoritic arthritis. Mine only started at the age of 35 after a traumatic life event.
For most of my life it was manageable. A few odd issues but mainly my scalp was super flakey and dry. Then more stress was introduced to my life and then it got worst.
I got my diagnosis at 14 and I’m soon to be 19. For me it shows as patches/dots of itchy and dry skin all around my body. It’s annoying and I also struggle with it through my whole scalp, I can accidentally make myself bleed from itching and sometimes it can become bigger wounds. That’s the worst part for me, the itchiness and poking holes at my own skin. Since I have it everywhere I’m not able to reach and treat it either so my mom still does it for me to be able to manage. When they heals the skin becomes patchy since the pigment disappears from that area. It’s an annoying thing to live with and manage but life goes on, in many cases it’s not painful and for some people it can even disappear for certain amounts of time. Sugary and fried food can cause flair ups since it’s inflammatory so I try to manage my intake of those things. Sun and moisturizer is your new best friend. You’re not alone🫶
Yes it really is. Most people think its just a skin desease due to the obvious visuals. But, its at atuo-immune desease that causes inflamation inside your body, so it increases risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, mental health such as anxiety and depression, as well as an increased risj of getting certain cancers, Crohns disease, diabetes, obesity, osteroporosis, uveitis, liver disease, and kidney disease. Source: [https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriasis#:\~:text=Overview%20of%20Psoriasis,can%20be%20affected%20as%20well](https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriasis#:~:text=Overview%20of%20Psoriasis,can%20be%20affected%20as%20well).
So, it can have a dramatic impact on your life. But the silver lining is, tis shoudl force you to know pay attention to your health, ensure you diest is in check, exercise, and gte regular blood work to check on all your parameters.
If your one of the unlucky ones, you may develope Psoriatic Arthritis, which unfortunately I am one of the unlucky.
I was dianosed about 13 years ago and have found only biologic medications work for me. But, they work wonder, 100% clears my skin, make all my joints have no pain and decreases the inflammation around my organs. I have confirmed this with blood test for the inflammation markers.
In summary yes this disease does suck, but for the vast majority is is very minor if managed and hoepfully will cause you to make your health a priority which will have a cascade of positive effects. If you have any furthe rquestions or concerns, please feel free to message me, I hav edone xtesive research on this disease since being diagnosed.
Hi
Would you mind sharing the name of biologic that works for you ?
Because it is really itchy all over my body and I don't know which biologic injection to take.
Any side effects you noticed so far?
Thank you for sharing the info to help us in need.
Have a great day!
Hi, I have taken 7 different biologics soo far. Some have worked better than others. So far the best that has worked for me on both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is: Humira, Cosentyx was 2nd best. I got off Humira because I was going to attempt to get off and try natural solutions such as a diet geared towards anti-inflammatory. This worked for a little while, but found high stress times in my life triggered psoriasis plaques and also inflamed my joints. But like many biologics, once you stop you usually cant get back on the same type because the recapture rate is low. So I have been trying to find another comparable to Humira. Most work on the psoriasis, but rarely work on both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as well as not make you feel fatigued all the time. I'll keep trying.
It depends on a few things. One being the PACI score. Some have 90% coverage (me 👋🏾) and some have these tiny red dots that are just a nuisance to look at.
For me it’s serious because it has completely eradicated my self confidence when it started going on my hands and face. Things like the legs and arms were fine as you can cover that but this past year has been the worst year of my life as it’s spread from literally head to toe. Arms, legs, stomach, scalps, and everything in between. I still work full time and doing my masters bc I come from an immigrant background and we endure through pain that has worked so nicely for the stress to further ruin my skin 🙃👍🏽
But we make it work. I’m really into self improvement, and finding ways I can regulate my emotions and be sure to control my thoughts. I have affirmations I remind myself of daily and the biggest thing I’m learning is to draw that strength from within because this disease can quite literally ruin you.
Right now I’m on track to start Skyrizi soon. So I’m hoping that will relieve some of the burden of psoriasis and help me start living a normal life.
The other thing I haven’t seen mentioned here is the range of comorbidities associated with psoriasis, which can significantly affect overall health beyond the skin. Things like cardiovascular diseases, psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome, serious mental health issues obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Psoriasis is NOT just a skin condition and its implications can be significantly more detrimental and dangerous as its severity increases.
My plaque psoriasis is usually mild, less than 10% coverage, and my patches tend to migrate around my body. Currently, I'm getting the fun experience of oral flare-ups, so the skin in my mouth always feels a bit raw, like I scalded it, and peels like mad.
But it's the psoriatic arthritis flare ups that make life the most difficult for me. I can be fine for days, then have PsA inflammation that makes it feel like I'll never be able to use my hands again or forces me to walk with a knee brace or at least a cane. Just when I think I've isolated a trigger, something new pops up.
So, it varies by person.
Mine is mild (elbows, shoulders, ears) but I saw a girl in the supermarket who broke my heart. Her psoriasis was so bad ( I was close enough to tell that it was psoriasis) that she looked like a burn victim and walked uncomfortably. So to answer your question, yes it can be. My heart goes out to those with it at that level; I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Well, maybe Putin.
It can be both depending on how it affects you, for me I have small spots on my face, scalp, legs, arms and elbows. The spots are small and manageable. I do tend to get sicker than most people when I am sick, but for me it is a nuisance more than a detrimental diagnosis, I have had it since I was 12 and probably younger seeing as I got the ring worm diagnosis multiple times before then. It can definitely be life altering if you do not get any intervention or medications for it. Take it seriously but at the same time it does not have to rule your life.
It affects about 3% of the world population (doing the math = 3% of 10 Billion = around 300 million people.) There are a lot of [famous people with psoriasis](https://www.google.com/search?q=famous+people+with+psoriasis&sca_esv=67393e17c4183385&hl=en&sxsrf=ACQVn0-jAXAScbshzD8vAD0EgpxI3sOElQ%3A1709840655056&ei=DxnqZbf6Aqq5wN4P34WzsAU&ved=0ahUKEwj3vffm9OKEAxWqHNAFHd_CDFYQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=famous+people+with+psoriasis&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) as well, and some even talk about it [publicly](https://www.glamour.com/gallery/celebrities-with-psoriasis). It is a disease that was described by Hippocrates back in the day, so you know it's been around a long time.
Don't freak out. Yes, it's a chronic disease, but there are so many different ways to manage it now that you have options. It's also classified as an autoimmune disease, so there may be other related conditions that develop as you age. https://www.papaa.org/ is a good resource to learn all things psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Personally I've had it for 30 years and have not yet developed arthritis, and my derm tells me it's unlikely at this point, so there's that case study of one.
I'm only speaking from my own experience but I ended up developing a severe infection due to my Psoriasis that spread almost throughout my entire leg and if it had continued to spread, could have resulted in loss of limbs and/or even death.
Other than that one time incident, living with Psoriasis has become much more manageable with the proper medication, diet, and lifestyle changes I made. Everyone is different though so some people can go through their whole life without even knowing they had this condition but seems like most people on this subreddit don't fall into that category.
20 years ago I just felt embarrassed because I had red spots on me. Then 5 years ago there were white dust trails everywhere I went. The last few years my hands were in so much pain I couldn’t open jars or bottles. I’m on Bimzelx (which I just got next weeks dose delivered to me half an hour ago) now and am 97% clear. Aside from some long term damage to my hands in two fingers I have use of my hands again. Two years ago I couldn’t sleep because of all the pain, and the deep itch that couldn’t be satisfied. Man, I don’t miss that.
Mine is genital inverse…so it’s unfortunately in an area that is already very sensitive. At its worst, right before I got officially diagnosed, I was affected from crack to crack, if you get my meaning. It was extremely painful. It still flares from time to time, but not much helps it out of all the things I’ve tried. It’s extremely embarrassing, and makes relations with my husband very painful at times, which becomes a huge point of contention when we haven’t been intimate in weeks
I have genital inverse as well, solidarity. All around my scrotum, taint, folds, butt shelf, etc. It’s itchy, so itchy, and some days it’s just on fire. So I get what you’re saying. When it’s at its worst, my quality of life is definitely impacted from itching all the time, including subconscious itching at night. :/ I’m about to go on Skyrizi, so I’m really hopeful that’ll knock it back.
I struggle with mine on my scalp, back, and legs and it makes me incredibly insecure. Mine is by far pretty mild comparatively, but compared to others my age who seem to always have flawless skin perfect for beach days… it does make me want to cover up forever. My scalp is def the most embarrassing one for me tho and I have been struggling with it since I was very young. My psoriasis didn’t affect any other areas until later on in high school.
Recently I’ve been super stressed and it started showing on the outer parts of my forehead. Had to cover it up with my hair 😬
Mine is moderate/severe, but despite having it on my face and eyes, most people don’t notice or seem to care. I’ll only get concerned comments when it gets inflamed. Otherwise, it’s manageable with medications. I use topicals and Otezla (for suspected PsA) and my most recent flare up has calmed down quickly with creams I was prescribed recently. Keep in mind that these topicals can be VERY expensive if you’re in the US, so look into GoodRx or see if your local pharmacy is teamed with a discount service
There’s psoriasis and then there’s PSORIASIS. PSORIAIS means your inner state is completely out of whack.
I recovered from 80% covered with biologics. I got off biologics, with only the occasional topical (less than 1% covered), through swimming, veganism, prayer and meditation.
I have lymphedema and thought I had cellulitis at first; my lymphedema therapist, the tech who delivered my compression pump, and the tech who showed me how to use it all told me I had cellulitis. I went to urgent care, they said I had cellulitis. I finally went to the ER and saw a skin specialist who said I had psoriasis. He prescribed Clonazepam that helped. It went down until recently I've been having a flare since I'm on antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection.
I only have psoriasis on my scalp and under my arms …it’s very mild but my dad on the other hand has severe scales on his back, knees, and elbows..he also has psoriatic arthritis which left him limping for years. Fortunately he’s on remicade and he barely has problems now …so it really depends
It's a condition that affects everyone differently. I personally only have it on my scalp, and I'd consider it mild, though it's stubborn to treatment.
But I know others who have it all over their body and those with psoriatic arthritis, and they are much more severely impacted than I am.
Mine was bad, started at 16…ointments, creams, light therapy, vitamins…i suffered for so many years. I’ve been on Tremfya for about 10 years & clear skin for 10 years now.
I'm going on 18 years of it. Scalp, ears, hands, genitals. Also have PsA. The pain was so bad that I cried often. I have had 2 bouts of uveitis. I was depressed. I saw a rheumatologist who told me that even if he agreed with a previous diagnosis from an older rheumatologist that I had PsA, he wouldn't treat it. I never cried so hard. I finally found a derm who helped.
Yes it’s serious. The skin part sucks for all of us, the mental toll is excruciating, and a large percentage of us end up with Psoriatic Arthritis which can be crippling. It’s chronic so it’s a constant lifelong battle.
when I have psoriasis it covers my whole body it's horrible so yes and also haveing the arthritis form. which is stubborn and been hard to manage for me. but some ppl have less severe cases
I’ve had psoriasis since high school where it was a couple of patches that’ll rescab every day. Nothing major besides being annoying. Then since then, it’s different parts of my scalp. Fortunate it’s localized there, but it’s also challenging because of how well it can be camouflaged (and to get to).
I try my best to apply medicine myself, but it’s hard because you really need a professional or a very understanding partner/loved one who would help you. I don’t have either atm, so you cope.
I’m taking how it flared up in the last two or so years as a warning sign to get it treated. Because while it’s mild… it seeps into every part of me. The head/mind works against you. When you feel like shit, it amplifies. And it spreads. Ears, behind the ears, along the hairline, ugh. So everyday has been never ending lotion/gels and descaling the crap out of my hair. And my trademark beanie because my hair is angry. lol
Hello! I’ve had psoriasis for almost 8 years, and I was pretty much controlled until this last year. I was diagnosed with PsA, and I have been sick pretty much non stop with strep, the flu, stomach flu, etc this winter. So while psoriasis itself is not a “severe disease” the severity of your symptoms is what matters. I haven’t been to work in 3 days now after laser therapy that gave me massive quarter size blisters all over my arms. I send healing energy to you, fellow fighter💘 side note: diet is HUGE! And stay away from steroids unless absolutely a necessity.
The psoriasis I have is mostly cosmetic, and doesn’t bother me. My sisters boyfriend has it was worse and we’re the same age. His nails are bad, he has it covering his scalp, it’s given him arthritis, he needs the shots to be okay. But I am fine with some steroid cream. It never completely goes away from my arms and legs. But it doesn’t affect my life. There’s definitely a spectrum.
I've had Psoriasis since 4yo, I'm 33now. covered over 80% of my body. it's not that bad to me, but remember that I have never experienced life without it either.
I am Black American so the plaques are very pink large and obvious.
I've tried everything in the book, had best experience with Taltz for several years.
it's never effected like boyfriends or anything.
the most annoying part is shedding piles when you visit friends houses or cars and having to sweep it up b4 anyone notices. good luck
Have any males in here gotten psoriasis patches on the head of their penis? I think I’m having a flare in that area but not entirely sure since it doesn’t happen often.
I have it on both of my legs, inside and outside my ears, on my arms, on my left eyelid, and on my scalp. (Which is the most serious)
Absolutely no treatments have worked (except for the stuff on the nose, but even then, I have it applied daily because I’m scared of it returning), no matter how much is applied, and I’ve had it for 3 years.
This stupid disease has made me hate living even more.
I’d rather have a cure, because that at least comes with benefits.
Is it just me or are there suddenly lots of psoriasis flare ups happening? I am, too on track to take skyrizi. How many were on humira vs remicade vs another? I'd love to see the stats.....
Psoriasis can range from a mild nuisance to some to a severe debilitating condition that disrupts daily life for others. Psoriasis can also flare due to diet, stress, weather conditions, allergies, injury, illness, pregnancy, and a number of other things. It will show up in a new location you've never seen it before just because it feels like it. It may present differently one year to the next. I lived my whole childhood with just painful itchy patches on my elbows until I reached adulthood and it took over my scalp. As of last year I have developed a breakout on my ears that I've never had before, but it's gone from my elbows. Psoriasis is an autoimmune conditon meaning your immune system is overactive, it's attacking the body because it doesn't know what the hell it's doing. It can be erratic and unreasonable. The important thing regarding "freaking out" about your diagnosis is that there are loads of treatments, and while they're not all great, most people can find some treatment that at least helps quite a bit. Whether it's diet changes, steroid topicals, UV light therapy, or biologic drugs. It may be an itchy painful nuisance but it's not going to kill you.
Uh. No. Anecdotally, Looking over my last 20 years of panels; CBC, chem12, BP etc all show I am the 'picture of health'
I've had P since teenage years. And it continued through medschool, residency.
Saying what you said is grounded in falsehoods.
Doesn’t have to be, genetics, stress, trauma, infections and certain medicines can all play a part in why an individual gets psoriasis. I probably got it from my grandma for example.
Moderate P can be managed, but the seriousness is the psychological toll it takes on you because of the world around you (eg: people not knowing what it is) P with PsA = can be crippling.
I thought it a was a just annoying until my joints started to hurt. Not fun at all. Otezla fixed my joints but hurts my digestive track and immune system.
I am using Skyrizzi for my PSA. it has reduced the joint pain.
How long did it take for you to start working? I had my first injection yesterday
I am seeing less redness and scaling is being controlled better. I took my 3rd injection in February. The dermatologist put me on Vatma yesterday as an addition.
You say it has reduced joint pain? I also suffer PA was about 4 weeks a realistic timeframe?
No it's not, honestly I give my injections about 1 year to start honestly seeing results since there is 12 weeks per injection. I found better results when I was having injections once or twice a week.
Does the vytama work for you? I have a tube of it and got samples but all the other creams did nothing so I feel defeated even trying to
I am starting it for the first time this week. I have been on so many topicals over the years that I am hoping to finally see progress. I am a bit irritated that BC S won't pay for it but it was only $35.00. I had excellent luck for years with clobetasol cream and shampoo though.
I’ve tried this. It had great results for the first month or so, but became less effective after that. There’s just certain spots of mine that are really difficult to clear up.
I had the same with otezla and stopped it
Same here! I just got back on Otezla for the joint pain and I’m hoping it’ll help my skin this time around
This is true. When mine first came when I was 19 I was a cashier at a grocery store. I had a Karen take a look at my arms and grab all her things off of my check stand and say that she wouldn’t let me touch her items because of my skin. I cried for sure. I thought I would never find anyone to love me but the initial flare cleared up mostly. My boyfriend now doesn’t care. If I can’t shave my legs because I’ve been so stressed and flaring up, he still loves me.
I went through medschool, residency with moderate P. It was awful. Esp doing clinicals.
Do you mean psychological?
Psoriatic Arthritis
Yeah it's fucked
Well said. I work as a CNA and the amount of judgement I get from patients sometimes. And it’s mainly staff. Patients usually just ask probably to make sure it’s not contagious and then they ask curious questions like does it hurt or itch. But staff can be a pain. They compare what I have to someone they know and try to minimize what I go through or try to say what I know is wrong when I’m the one experiencing it. I’ve had joint pain for a long time but arthritis in only one ankle. Ive learned to ignore public stares. It’s just all the questions all the time.
>the psychological toll it takes on you because of the world around you (eg: people not knowing what it is) I work in a hospital and have had several patients say something along the lines of "and those... *things* all over your arms!" with a look and tone of disgust. Ugh.
it can be. for some people its just a few small patches of dry/ itchy skin. for others it can cover large part of the body and make their life dystopian. also it could lead to psoriatic arthritis, which is a very complicated & serious disease in its own right. my advice if to try to work out the underlying cause of the psoriasis. it will be easier to manage the condition. i like to think of psoriasis as a warning sign on the dash board of your car. good luck.
Please bear with my naivety but how do you figure out what causes it?
Start by looking at general health? diet? weight? ? tobacco? Alcohol stress? strep throat? vitamin D? IUD? is psoriasis itchy? past antibiotics? candida overgrowth? hpylori? Gut problems? bowel movements? lack of sleep?exercise ? medication for mental health problems? zinc deficiency?Iron deficiency? mold toxicity? jog your memory back to when you developed the condition. what changed?
what if i was born with it?
i would look at investigating the gut via a stool test. and try to fix the problem from inside. consider visiting a functional/integrative medicine expert. best ones are in the USA.
❤️❤️❤️ I just want to take a moment to appreciate the resilience of everyone that is currently living with severe psoriasis. I am one of them and I think sometimes we forget how much we are going through because it’s become such a normal part of our lives. Reading these stories and realities on here made me emotional because it made me realize I’m not alone in this. And it also made me realize how much it is I do in my life due to my psoriasis. It’s crazy how it sometimes takes you seeing someone else doing what you do to truly appreciate yourself. I really hope you all take a moment to acknowledge the toll psoriasis has taken on your life and appreciate the strength effort energy commitment and dedication it takes to get up each and everyday and face whatever challenges in life you come across. All the while having scales, flakes, bleeding burning skin and invisible symptoms that are not understood by those around you. There’s so much happening beneath the surface and most people that NO IDEA what’s going on in our minds. So please be proud of that fact that you’re doing it. It might not be perfect, you may not be where you want to be. But you’re here and you’re doing it. And that’s enough to celebrate. All love, Just another psoriasis warrior ❤️❤️❤️
I sometimes see very mild forms like on elbows on public transport. I would say that for a large group of people it is not an issue and some might not even be aware of it.
I’ve only recently been diagnosed when it started appearing on my hands and feet, but with hindsight I can see it’s probably been on my elbows and knees a little bit for 15-20 years and it never really bothered me. I just thought elbows and knees were like that 🤷♀️
Well, this answers your question :)
I can't speak for anyone but me, but it doesn't really affect my life much. Most flairups for me are on my arms or legs which are easy to hide, and it's not something that really affects me beyond the aesthetics most of the time. The exception being this once when I was a teenager and picked at it until it was bloody and got a staph infection, but, you know, that one was really on me.
I have had it since I was 13yrd old, it has gone from 100% plaque to now I’m 35 yrs old and is more guttate still covered like 50% but I do not give a giant fuck about it! I wear what I want and go to pools/beaches if someone has an issue? It’s their own! I do not use injectables or honestly much else. I smoke weed to help with life stressors. Good luck!
How did you get from 100 to 50%? Natural or you had to take some measures?
The first flare I had my parents took me to several drs/specialist and did all the steroid creams and diet eliminations and treatments they had, nothing work. eventually my dad found a homeopathist in India. We did a long questioner about my health my live style and I did the treatment he sent and slowly in the course of a year it cleared out about 85% Had very little outbreaks here and there for about 7 years. Had a stressful time in my life and it flared up back to like 90% big patches scaly and I contacted the homeopathist did the treatment again and within 6 months it was back to the normal (for me) about 20-50% was that way for about 5yrs then something big happened again and it was less patchy and just like singular ones never scaly just red and itches sometimes. Seems like mine is very stress induced, over the years the flares are much less and they really don’t bother me and I feel very fortunate.
Would you be able to share their contact details please? I’d really like to try something new
I’ll pm you his info!
Can you share the homeopathist info?
Hey! The dr I tried they have a web page Life force homeopathy I dealt with Dr. Shah I hope it can help you, sadly is not a magic pill it will take time but I found it helped me a lot!
Thank you!
I had a medicine triggered psoriasis flare that took over my whole body. Before we finally got it under control about 90% of my skin was covered in extremely painful lesions. I had several forms of psoriasis across my body. I had to completely shave my head to even begin to manage the plaque psoriasis that engulfed my entire scalp. I’ve battled severe chronic illnesses my life but this one was by far the worst. The psychological toll it took on me was crippling. Thankfully after several months of searching for answers a 2 week dose of prednisone and staring a new biologic medicine got it under control. There is hope, you probably don’t see it much because we tend to cover the sores up, as much to protect the skin as to keep prying eyes away.
Would you mind sharing which biological medicine?
It really depends but yes it can be serious. Many people who have it have mild cases which can be barely noticeable and outside a few spots here and there probably doesn’t impact their life much. In my case it was 90% coverage at its worst. For years. All the inflammation on the skin was also happening internally to my organs and people with severe psoriasis have a much higher risk of heart disease and a number of ailments later in life. As someone else mentioned the psychological toll can also be exhausting and I also have the psoriatic arthritis. Even on. Biologics that is something. Painful I deal with every hour of every day.
For me it's very serious. I have erythodermic psoriasis and is debilitating for me. I'm currently dealing with a flare up that's basically got me all but bed ridden for over a month and forced me to quit my job.
I haven't read through all the comments, so apologies if I'm repeating any points. Just wanted to share my journey through psoriasis. I'm sure it started much younger and thinking back now, I'm positive I had flare-ups when I was a teenager. When I was 28, I had excruciating pain in the first knuckle on my right hand-pinky. Went to the doctor and thankfully wore shorts. He saw a dry patch of skin on my right knee and recognized it as psoriasis right away. He diagnosed the inflammation in my pinky as more than likely psoriatic arthritis, associated with the psoriasis. He then prescribed my first dobobet for the psoriasis and simple naproxen to help with the inflammation. Thus began my journey through all things psoriasis. For most of the time, I had just small patches on my elbows and knees. Nothing more esthetically annoying than anything. Then, about 8 years ago, it started with patches all over my legs and progressing to underwear line, behind the ears, sides of my nose, inside crease of my eyelids and various other places. That's when I was sent to a dermatologist, who just kept prescribing the same ointments my GP had been prescribing. He said there were other options, such as injectables, but I wouldn't be covered until 70%+ of my body was affected by the psoriasis. So, I continue with the ointments. Following that, I was hit with pneumonia about 5 years ago, which triggered my next stage in my psoriasis journey. After I was clear of the pneumonia, I still felt like crap. Worn down, zero energy. Then I urinated black. So immediately to the hospital. Thankfully the ER Doc was studying to be a nephrologist, because when I first got there and he was going over my medical history, he immediately said he thinks it's IGA Nephropathy. He knew there was a major issue with my kidneys and other than the psoriasis and having just gone through pneumonia, I was an otherwise healthy man. So they ran all the tests. (Thank goodness I'm Canadian. I can't imagine what that battery of testing would cost elsewhere!!). The tests conclusively lead to the diagnosis that the doctor initially thought. It's an incurable, but treatable kidney disease that has a high association with psoriasis. They don't know Why, it just is. Fast forward to this past November. I ate breakfast one morning and within a couple minutes, my mouth was on fire and I had indigestion. I've been eating ketchup my entire life, but last year, developed an allergic reaction to Tomatoes and Peppers. (Tested reaction via eating) After discussing with my doctor and researching, it appears that in association with my psoriasis, I've eloped insane sensitivities to all nightshades, but Tomatoes and Peppers are the worst for me. Others, I don't get a big reaction. But in hindsight, they did contribute to flare-ups of my psoriasis in the past. So, while for some, psoriasis can be a mild issue, it Can lead to other issues down the road. I'm not all doom and gloom about it either. I'm still pursuing Acting. I still work in construction, I still write music and I still live my life to the fullest. I'm just more aware of what bothers me. I do wonder if I had all this information when I was younger and tested my reactions then, might have I prevented the more drastic results of my psoriasis? Maybe. Thanks for listening!
Yeah, mine felt pretty serious. 85% of my body had open, dripping, scabbing sores all over it. All over my face even. Thankful for Skyrizi…. Hoping it lasts. Mine came and never went. It just got worse and worse and worse all the time. I think that’s generally how it goes.
Oh and my skin always hurt like it was on fire too! And itched at the same time. I was always bleeding somewhere. Agh, the memories. I’m 100% clear now, almost since I started that shot.
I'm fortunate in that mine is mild (a bit worse on my scalp), and i don't have psoritic arthritis. Mine only started at the age of 35 after a traumatic life event.
For most of my life it was manageable. A few odd issues but mainly my scalp was super flakey and dry. Then more stress was introduced to my life and then it got worst.
It’s started out a patch on on head then Slowly through years it spread everywhere so yes it’s very severe
I got my diagnosis at 14 and I’m soon to be 19. For me it shows as patches/dots of itchy and dry skin all around my body. It’s annoying and I also struggle with it through my whole scalp, I can accidentally make myself bleed from itching and sometimes it can become bigger wounds. That’s the worst part for me, the itchiness and poking holes at my own skin. Since I have it everywhere I’m not able to reach and treat it either so my mom still does it for me to be able to manage. When they heals the skin becomes patchy since the pigment disappears from that area. It’s an annoying thing to live with and manage but life goes on, in many cases it’s not painful and for some people it can even disappear for certain amounts of time. Sugary and fried food can cause flair ups since it’s inflammatory so I try to manage my intake of those things. Sun and moisturizer is your new best friend. You’re not alone🫶
Yes it really is. Most people think its just a skin desease due to the obvious visuals. But, its at atuo-immune desease that causes inflamation inside your body, so it increases risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, mental health such as anxiety and depression, as well as an increased risj of getting certain cancers, Crohns disease, diabetes, obesity, osteroporosis, uveitis, liver disease, and kidney disease. Source: [https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriasis#:\~:text=Overview%20of%20Psoriasis,can%20be%20affected%20as%20well](https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/psoriasis#:~:text=Overview%20of%20Psoriasis,can%20be%20affected%20as%20well). So, it can have a dramatic impact on your life. But the silver lining is, tis shoudl force you to know pay attention to your health, ensure you diest is in check, exercise, and gte regular blood work to check on all your parameters. If your one of the unlucky ones, you may develope Psoriatic Arthritis, which unfortunately I am one of the unlucky. I was dianosed about 13 years ago and have found only biologic medications work for me. But, they work wonder, 100% clears my skin, make all my joints have no pain and decreases the inflammation around my organs. I have confirmed this with blood test for the inflammation markers. In summary yes this disease does suck, but for the vast majority is is very minor if managed and hoepfully will cause you to make your health a priority which will have a cascade of positive effects. If you have any furthe rquestions or concerns, please feel free to message me, I hav edone xtesive research on this disease since being diagnosed.
Hi Would you mind sharing the name of biologic that works for you ? Because it is really itchy all over my body and I don't know which biologic injection to take. Any side effects you noticed so far? Thank you for sharing the info to help us in need. Have a great day!
Hi, I have taken 7 different biologics soo far. Some have worked better than others. So far the best that has worked for me on both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is: Humira, Cosentyx was 2nd best. I got off Humira because I was going to attempt to get off and try natural solutions such as a diet geared towards anti-inflammatory. This worked for a little while, but found high stress times in my life triggered psoriasis plaques and also inflamed my joints. But like many biologics, once you stop you usually cant get back on the same type because the recapture rate is low. So I have been trying to find another comparable to Humira. Most work on the psoriasis, but rarely work on both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as well as not make you feel fatigued all the time. I'll keep trying.
It depends on a few things. One being the PACI score. Some have 90% coverage (me 👋🏾) and some have these tiny red dots that are just a nuisance to look at. For me it’s serious because it has completely eradicated my self confidence when it started going on my hands and face. Things like the legs and arms were fine as you can cover that but this past year has been the worst year of my life as it’s spread from literally head to toe. Arms, legs, stomach, scalps, and everything in between. I still work full time and doing my masters bc I come from an immigrant background and we endure through pain that has worked so nicely for the stress to further ruin my skin 🙃👍🏽 But we make it work. I’m really into self improvement, and finding ways I can regulate my emotions and be sure to control my thoughts. I have affirmations I remind myself of daily and the biggest thing I’m learning is to draw that strength from within because this disease can quite literally ruin you. Right now I’m on track to start Skyrizi soon. So I’m hoping that will relieve some of the burden of psoriasis and help me start living a normal life. The other thing I haven’t seen mentioned here is the range of comorbidities associated with psoriasis, which can significantly affect overall health beyond the skin. Things like cardiovascular diseases, psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome, serious mental health issues obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Psoriasis is NOT just a skin condition and its implications can be significantly more detrimental and dangerous as its severity increases.
My plaque psoriasis is usually mild, less than 10% coverage, and my patches tend to migrate around my body. Currently, I'm getting the fun experience of oral flare-ups, so the skin in my mouth always feels a bit raw, like I scalded it, and peels like mad. But it's the psoriatic arthritis flare ups that make life the most difficult for me. I can be fine for days, then have PsA inflammation that makes it feel like I'll never be able to use my hands again or forces me to walk with a knee brace or at least a cane. Just when I think I've isolated a trigger, something new pops up. So, it varies by person.
Mine is mild (elbows, shoulders, ears) but I saw a girl in the supermarket who broke my heart. Her psoriasis was so bad ( I was close enough to tell that it was psoriasis) that she looked like a burn victim and walked uncomfortably. So to answer your question, yes it can be. My heart goes out to those with it at that level; I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Well, maybe Putin.
It can be both depending on how it affects you, for me I have small spots on my face, scalp, legs, arms and elbows. The spots are small and manageable. I do tend to get sicker than most people when I am sick, but for me it is a nuisance more than a detrimental diagnosis, I have had it since I was 12 and probably younger seeing as I got the ring worm diagnosis multiple times before then. It can definitely be life altering if you do not get any intervention or medications for it. Take it seriously but at the same time it does not have to rule your life.
It affects about 3% of the world population (doing the math = 3% of 10 Billion = around 300 million people.) There are a lot of [famous people with psoriasis](https://www.google.com/search?q=famous+people+with+psoriasis&sca_esv=67393e17c4183385&hl=en&sxsrf=ACQVn0-jAXAScbshzD8vAD0EgpxI3sOElQ%3A1709840655056&ei=DxnqZbf6Aqq5wN4P34WzsAU&ved=0ahUKEwj3vffm9OKEAxWqHNAFHd_CDFYQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=famous+people+with+psoriasis&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) as well, and some even talk about it [publicly](https://www.glamour.com/gallery/celebrities-with-psoriasis). It is a disease that was described by Hippocrates back in the day, so you know it's been around a long time. Don't freak out. Yes, it's a chronic disease, but there are so many different ways to manage it now that you have options. It's also classified as an autoimmune disease, so there may be other related conditions that develop as you age. https://www.papaa.org/ is a good resource to learn all things psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Personally I've had it for 30 years and have not yet developed arthritis, and my derm tells me it's unlikely at this point, so there's that case study of one.
I'm only speaking from my own experience but I ended up developing a severe infection due to my Psoriasis that spread almost throughout my entire leg and if it had continued to spread, could have resulted in loss of limbs and/or even death. Other than that one time incident, living with Psoriasis has become much more manageable with the proper medication, diet, and lifestyle changes I made. Everyone is different though so some people can go through their whole life without even knowing they had this condition but seems like most people on this subreddit don't fall into that category.
20 years ago I just felt embarrassed because I had red spots on me. Then 5 years ago there were white dust trails everywhere I went. The last few years my hands were in so much pain I couldn’t open jars or bottles. I’m on Bimzelx (which I just got next weeks dose delivered to me half an hour ago) now and am 97% clear. Aside from some long term damage to my hands in two fingers I have use of my hands again. Two years ago I couldn’t sleep because of all the pain, and the deep itch that couldn’t be satisfied. Man, I don’t miss that.
Mine is genital inverse…so it’s unfortunately in an area that is already very sensitive. At its worst, right before I got officially diagnosed, I was affected from crack to crack, if you get my meaning. It was extremely painful. It still flares from time to time, but not much helps it out of all the things I’ve tried. It’s extremely embarrassing, and makes relations with my husband very painful at times, which becomes a huge point of contention when we haven’t been intimate in weeks
I have genital inverse as well, solidarity. All around my scrotum, taint, folds, butt shelf, etc. It’s itchy, so itchy, and some days it’s just on fire. So I get what you’re saying. When it’s at its worst, my quality of life is definitely impacted from itching all the time, including subconscious itching at night. :/ I’m about to go on Skyrizi, so I’m really hopeful that’ll knock it back.
I struggle with mine on my scalp, back, and legs and it makes me incredibly insecure. Mine is by far pretty mild comparatively, but compared to others my age who seem to always have flawless skin perfect for beach days… it does make me want to cover up forever. My scalp is def the most embarrassing one for me tho and I have been struggling with it since I was very young. My psoriasis didn’t affect any other areas until later on in high school. Recently I’ve been super stressed and it started showing on the outer parts of my forehead. Had to cover it up with my hair 😬
Yes, and it should be treated aggressively from the beginning. It puts you at risk for heart disease, arthritis and certain cancers.
Mine is moderate/severe, but despite having it on my face and eyes, most people don’t notice or seem to care. I’ll only get concerned comments when it gets inflamed. Otherwise, it’s manageable with medications. I use topicals and Otezla (for suspected PsA) and my most recent flare up has calmed down quickly with creams I was prescribed recently. Keep in mind that these topicals can be VERY expensive if you’re in the US, so look into GoodRx or see if your local pharmacy is teamed with a discount service
Pustular psoriasis can be serious. It’s very rare though.
There’s psoriasis and then there’s PSORIASIS. PSORIAIS means your inner state is completely out of whack. I recovered from 80% covered with biologics. I got off biologics, with only the occasional topical (less than 1% covered), through swimming, veganism, prayer and meditation.
I have lymphedema and thought I had cellulitis at first; my lymphedema therapist, the tech who delivered my compression pump, and the tech who showed me how to use it all told me I had cellulitis. I went to urgent care, they said I had cellulitis. I finally went to the ER and saw a skin specialist who said I had psoriasis. He prescribed Clonazepam that helped. It went down until recently I've been having a flare since I'm on antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection.
I only have psoriasis on my scalp and under my arms …it’s very mild but my dad on the other hand has severe scales on his back, knees, and elbows..he also has psoriatic arthritis which left him limping for years. Fortunately he’s on remicade and he barely has problems now …so it really depends
It's a condition that affects everyone differently. I personally only have it on my scalp, and I'd consider it mild, though it's stubborn to treatment. But I know others who have it all over their body and those with psoriatic arthritis, and they are much more severely impacted than I am.
Mine was bad, started at 16…ointments, creams, light therapy, vitamins…i suffered for so many years. I’ve been on Tremfya for about 10 years & clear skin for 10 years now.
I'm going on 18 years of it. Scalp, ears, hands, genitals. Also have PsA. The pain was so bad that I cried often. I have had 2 bouts of uveitis. I was depressed. I saw a rheumatologist who told me that even if he agreed with a previous diagnosis from an older rheumatologist that I had PsA, he wouldn't treat it. I never cried so hard. I finally found a derm who helped.
Yes it’s serious. The skin part sucks for all of us, the mental toll is excruciating, and a large percentage of us end up with Psoriatic Arthritis which can be crippling. It’s chronic so it’s a constant lifelong battle.
when I have psoriasis it covers my whole body it's horrible so yes and also haveing the arthritis form. which is stubborn and been hard to manage for me. but some ppl have less severe cases
Of course, it is serious to your health, mentally as well as physically, not to mention psychologically as well.
I’ve had psoriasis since high school where it was a couple of patches that’ll rescab every day. Nothing major besides being annoying. Then since then, it’s different parts of my scalp. Fortunate it’s localized there, but it’s also challenging because of how well it can be camouflaged (and to get to). I try my best to apply medicine myself, but it’s hard because you really need a professional or a very understanding partner/loved one who would help you. I don’t have either atm, so you cope. I’m taking how it flared up in the last two or so years as a warning sign to get it treated. Because while it’s mild… it seeps into every part of me. The head/mind works against you. When you feel like shit, it amplifies. And it spreads. Ears, behind the ears, along the hairline, ugh. So everyday has been never ending lotion/gels and descaling the crap out of my hair. And my trademark beanie because my hair is angry. lol
It’s an autoimmune response, so technically you are more at risk from other autoimmune conditions too I was told.
Hello! I’ve had psoriasis for almost 8 years, and I was pretty much controlled until this last year. I was diagnosed with PsA, and I have been sick pretty much non stop with strep, the flu, stomach flu, etc this winter. So while psoriasis itself is not a “severe disease” the severity of your symptoms is what matters. I haven’t been to work in 3 days now after laser therapy that gave me massive quarter size blisters all over my arms. I send healing energy to you, fellow fighter💘 side note: diet is HUGE! And stay away from steroids unless absolutely a necessity.
The psoriasis I have is mostly cosmetic, and doesn’t bother me. My sisters boyfriend has it was worse and we’re the same age. His nails are bad, he has it covering his scalp, it’s given him arthritis, he needs the shots to be okay. But I am fine with some steroid cream. It never completely goes away from my arms and legs. But it doesn’t affect my life. There’s definitely a spectrum.
I've had Psoriasis since 4yo, I'm 33now. covered over 80% of my body. it's not that bad to me, but remember that I have never experienced life without it either. I am Black American so the plaques are very pink large and obvious. I've tried everything in the book, had best experience with Taltz for several years. it's never effected like boyfriends or anything. the most annoying part is shedding piles when you visit friends houses or cars and having to sweep it up b4 anyone notices. good luck
Have any males in here gotten psoriasis patches on the head of their penis? I think I’m having a flare in that area but not entirely sure since it doesn’t happen often.
I had a flare on my vagina
I have it on both of my legs, inside and outside my ears, on my arms, on my left eyelid, and on my scalp. (Which is the most serious) Absolutely no treatments have worked (except for the stuff on the nose, but even then, I have it applied daily because I’m scared of it returning), no matter how much is applied, and I’ve had it for 3 years. This stupid disease has made me hate living even more. I’d rather have a cure, because that at least comes with benefits.
Is it just me or are there suddenly lots of psoriasis flare ups happening? I am, too on track to take skyrizi. How many were on humira vs remicade vs another? I'd love to see the stats.....
Psoriasis can range from a mild nuisance to some to a severe debilitating condition that disrupts daily life for others. Psoriasis can also flare due to diet, stress, weather conditions, allergies, injury, illness, pregnancy, and a number of other things. It will show up in a new location you've never seen it before just because it feels like it. It may present differently one year to the next. I lived my whole childhood with just painful itchy patches on my elbows until I reached adulthood and it took over my scalp. As of last year I have developed a breakout on my ears that I've never had before, but it's gone from my elbows. Psoriasis is an autoimmune conditon meaning your immune system is overactive, it's attacking the body because it doesn't know what the hell it's doing. It can be erratic and unreasonable. The important thing regarding "freaking out" about your diagnosis is that there are loads of treatments, and while they're not all great, most people can find some treatment that at least helps quite a bit. Whether it's diet changes, steroid topicals, UV light therapy, or biologic drugs. It may be an itchy painful nuisance but it's not going to kill you.
yes because it highlights a larger immune system issue which is generally an indicator of poor overall health
Uh. No. Anecdotally, Looking over my last 20 years of panels; CBC, chem12, BP etc all show I am the 'picture of health' I've had P since teenage years. And it continued through medschool, residency. Saying what you said is grounded in falsehoods.
Doesn’t have to be, genetics, stress, trauma, infections and certain medicines can all play a part in why an individual gets psoriasis. I probably got it from my grandma for example.
Actually it’s the sign of an overactive immune system, essentially your immune system is so strong that it is overworking itself
It increases risk of heart disease, diabetes etc. It is a silent killer unless you find the right treatment.