Helpful advice for living with Psoriasis

Managing psoriasis effectively goes beyond medical treatments; it encompasses self-care as a pivotal aspect of daily life. This means taking charge of your own health and wellness with guidance from your healthcare providers.

Self-care

Self-care is crucial for maintaining optimal fitness and a healthy weight, ensuring both physical and mental wellness, preventing diseases or injuries, and managing minor ailments and chronic conditions more efficiently.

For individuals dealing with chronic conditions like psoriasis, adopting a self-care routine can lead to significant benefits. It can enhance longevity, reduce pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, improve overall life quality, and promote greater activity and independence. Creating a personalized care plan can be instrumental in integrating treatment with your daily life, making it more manageable.

Adhere to Your Treatment Plan

It's crucial to follow your prescribed treatment regimen consistently, even when you notice improvements in your psoriasis.

Sticking with your treatment can help in preventing future outbreaks. Should you have any queries or concerns regarding your treatment or experience any side effects, it's important to communicate with your GP or healthcare team.

Routine Check-ins

Given that psoriasis is typically a chronic condition, staying in touch with your healthcare providers is essential. Be open about your symptoms or any issues you're facing. The better informed your care team is, the more effectively they can support your management of the condition.

Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Physical Activity Guidelines

For those living with psoriasis, healthcare providers might recommend lifestyle adjustments to alleviate symptoms, including:

• Quitting smoking,
• Reducing alcohol consumption to within safe limits,
• Achieving a healthier weight if overweight or obese.

Individuals with psoriasis are slightly more prone to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases than the general populace, though the underlying reasons remain unclear. Incorporating regular physical activity and adhering to a nutritious diet benefits everyone, not exclusively individuals with psoriasis. These habits contribute to the prevention of various health issues and can also mitigate stress, potentially leading to an improvement in psoriasis symptoms.

The Psychological Impact of Psoriasis

Psoriasis can significantly affect one's self-image, often leading to lowered self-esteem and increased anxiety. Such emotional challenges can escalate into depression, particularly if the psoriasis intensifies.

Healthcare professionals, including GPs and dermatologists, are aware of the psychological effects psoriasis can have. It's important to discuss any emotional or psychological concerns with them.

Psoriatic Arthritis Overview

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that some individuals with psoriasis may experience, leading to discomfort, pain, and swelling in the joints and surrounding tissues, coupled with stiffness. This condition can impact any joint but frequently targets the hands, feet, knees, neck, spine, and elbows. While psoriatic arthritis typically develops after the onset of psoriasis, it can precede the diagnosis of psoriasis in some cases.

Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis involves a multifaceted approach, including reviewing your medical history, physical exams, blood tests, X-rays, and MRI scans. Those with psoriasis are often evaluated annually for any indications of psoriatic arthritis. Should your physician suspect psoriatic arthritis, a referral to a rheumatologist is common, enabling access to treatments such as anti-inflammatory or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Psoriasis and Pregnancy

Psoriasis does not impact fertility, allowing women with the condition to experience normal pregnancies and deliver healthy babies. During pregnancy, some women may notice an improvement in their psoriasis symptoms, while others may see a worsening.

If you are considering starting a family, it's important to consult with your healthcare providers. Certain psoriasis treatments may pose risks to an unborn child, necessitating the use of birth control for both women and men during treatment, depending on the specific medication. Your medical team can offer guidance on managing your psoriasis effectively as you plan for pregnancy.

Talk to others 

Joining support groups has been beneficial for many individuals with psoriasis. These groups can boost self-esteem, diminish the sense of being alone, and provide useful tips on managing the condition effectively.

Conclusively, effectively managing psoriasis involves a holistic strategy that combines medical treatment, self-care practices, and lifestyle modifications. Staying committed to prescribed treatments, engaging in healthy habits, and seeking community support are essential for mitigating symptoms and enhancing quality of life. By adopting these approaches, individuals with psoriasis can navigate the condition more effectively, leading to improved well-being and empowerment in their daily lives.

Reference: 

1. “Living with Psoriasis”, NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/living-with/