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Risks of Not Treating Psoriasis

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Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes thick, red, scaly patches called plaques to develop. These plaques can be itchy and cause discomfort. For many people, having psoriasis means dealing not only with the symptoms, but also with the treatments. These include creams and ointments that can be messy, oral or injectable medications that can be expensive and come with serious risks and side effects, and light treatments that can be inconvenient and time-consuming. And for most people, treatment or prevention of psoriasis flares is a life-long commitment.

You may wonder if it’s worth all of the trouble. And you may be concerned about the risks that come with your psoriasis medications or treatments. However, the risks of not treating your psoriasis are much more than skin deep.

Physical risks

Untreated psoriasis can lead to plaques that continue to build and spread. These can be quite painful, and the itching can be severe. Uncontrolled plaques can become infected and cause scars. In addition:

  • Scalp psoriasis can lead to hair loss, which could be permanent.
  • You may develop changes in your nails, and you may even lose your nails.
  • If you have arthritis along with your psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis), you can have joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. You will need to take oral or injectable medications for this.

Increased frequency and severity of flares

If you take daily medications to treat and prevent flares, not keeping up with your treatments can be especially costly on your health. Stopping some medications suddenly or too soon can lead to the rebound effect. The rebound effect is when a flare occurs right after stopping a treatment. Flares that happen with the rebound effect spread quickly and often have symptoms that are much severe than you are used to with typical flares.

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Rarely, if you’re not controlling your psoriasis or stop your medications too quickly, you can even get a different type of psoriasis than you’re used to. Erythrodermic psoriasis is one type that can develop in people whose plaque psoriasis is uncontrolled. It is characterized by a severe, widespread, sunburn-like rash that leads to peeling of the skin. People with this type of psoriasis usually have severe itching and pain. They may develop swelling, infections, or congestive heart failure.

Reduced quality of life

The pain and itching that go along with psoriasis flare-ups can keep you up at night and cause you to feel tired the next day. This can affect how well you do at your job or in school. Severe psoriasis symptoms may even make it hard for you to care for yourself or your loved ones. Psoriasis of your hands or feet can interfere with your ability to do your job, play sports, or engage in hobbies. You may even have trouble walking and keeping active. Many people with psoriasis feel unattractive and isolate themselves from others. They may avoid going out in public, wearing clothing that shows their plaques, or participating in activities like swimming that make it difficult to hide their symptoms. Experts find that people who can control their psoriasis report a higher quality of life, miss less work, and are more productive.  

Depression and anxiety

Stress can be both a trigger and the result of psoriasis flares. People with psoriasis have a higher risk of depression and anxiety than those without it. The social isolation that often goes along with having psoriasis can make depression symptoms worse. Fortunately, studies show that treating your psoriasis can improve symptoms of depression.

Other inflammatory conditions

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease. People with psoriasis are more likely to have certain other inflammatory conditions such as heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. This is especially true for people with severe psoriasis. Researchers aren’t sure if having psoriasis causes these conditions or if they are related by shared factors. However, keeping your psoriasis under control may lower your risks. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, treating your psoriasis has been shown to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Not just skin deep

As you can see, treating your psoriasis is about much more than just treating your skin. Getting your psoriasis under control, and keeping it under control, can improve your quality of life and reduce your risks of physical, emotional, and even life-threatening complications. Work closely with your doctor to find a treatment plan that meets your goals and fits your lifestyle. And, commit to staying on track for life.

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THIS CONTENT DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. This content is provided for informational purposes and reflects the opinions of the author. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional regarding your health. If you think you may have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately or call 911.