Living with psoriasis

Although psoriasis is just a minor irritation forsome people, itcan have a significant impact on quality of life for those more severely affected .

If you have psoriasis, you may find the following advice helpful.

Self care

Self care is anessential part of your daily life.It involves taking responsibility for your own health and wellbeing with support from those involved in your care. Self care includesstaying fit and maintaining good physical and mental health, preventing illness or accidents, and caring more effectively for minor illnesses and long-term conditions.

People with long-term conditions can benefit enormously from self care. They can live longer, have less pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue,a better quality of life, and be more active and independent. Having a care plan will help you manage your treatment so that it fits your lifestyle.

Want to know more?

  • Self care and care plans
  • The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA): self help

Keep up your treatment

It's important to use your treatment as prescribed, even if your psoriasis improves. Continuous treatment can help to prevent flare-ups. If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment or any side effects, talk to your GP or healthcare team.

Regular reviews

Because psoriasisis usuallya long-term condition, you may be in regular contact with your healthcare team. Discuss your symptoms or concerns with them, asthe more the team knows, the morethey can help you.

Help with health costs

If you regularly pay for more than three prescriptions a month, you maysave moneywith a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). To check the cost of a PPC,call 0845 850 0030 or check leaflet HC12 (available in some pharmacies or GP surgeries).

Want to know more?

  • Help with health costs: prescription costs
  • Common Health Questions: where can I get a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)?
  • Money Advice Service

Healthy eating and exercise

People with psoriasishave aslightly higher risk of developing diabetes and Cardiovascular disease than the general population, althoughit's not known why. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are recommended for everyone, not just people with psoriasis, because they can help to prevent many health problems.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly can also relieve stress, which may improve your psoriasis.

Want to know more?

  • PAPAA: psoriasis and the heart
  • PAPAA: psoriasis and smoking

Emotional impact of psoriasis

Because ofthe effect that psoriasis can have on physical appearance, low self-esteem and anxiety are common among people withthe condition. This canlead to depression , especially if the psoriasis gets worse.

Your GP or dermatologist will understand the psychological and emotional impact ofpsoriasis, so talk to them about your concerns or anxieties.

Want to know more?

  • PAPAA: psychological aspects of psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis

Somepeople with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis . This causes tenderness, pain and swelling in the joints and connective tissue, as well as stiffness. It commonly affects the ends of the fingers and toes. In some people, it affects the lower back, neck and knees. Most people develop psoriatic arthritis after psoriasis,but about20%develop itbefore they're diagnosed with psoriasis.

There's no single test for psoriatic arthritis. It's normally diagnosed using a combination of methods, includinglooking at your medical history, physical examinations, blood tests, X-rays and MRI scans. If you have psoriasis, you'll usually have an annual assessment to look for signs of psoriatic arthritis.

Ifyour doctorthinks you have psoriatic arthritis, you'll usually be referred to a specialist called a rheumatologist, so you can be treated with anti-inflammatory or anti-rheumatic medicines.

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Pregnancy

Psoriasis doesn't affect fertility, and women with psoriasis can have a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby. Some women find their psoriasis improves during pregnancy,but for othersit gets worse.

Talk to your healthcare team if you're thinking of having a baby. Some treatments for psoriasis can be harmful to a developing baby, so use contraception while taking them.This can apply to both men and women, depending on the medication. Your healthcare team can suggest the bestways tocontrol your psoriasis before you start trying for a family.

Want to know more?

  • PAPAA: fertility, conception and pregnancy

Talk to others

Many people with psoriasis have found that getting involved in support groups helps them. Support groups can increase your self-confidence, reducefeelings of isolation,and give youpractical advice about living with the condition.

Want to know more?

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 5 Jan 2017