Psoriasis Living with Psoriasis

Psychological Effects of Psoriasis

While psoriasis may only affect the surface of your skin, its impact can cut to the core. In many cases, the disease influences how others treat you and how you feel about yourself. So one of the major issues when treating psoriasis becomes not only treating the disease, but helping a patient through it with their pride intact.

One of the worst parts of having psoriasis is the way others may avoid you, thinking that psoriasis is contagious or a sign of bad hygiene. In a study that looked at 137 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, 26 percent reported that during the previous month they had experienced an episode when "people made a conscious effort not to touch them" because of their psoriasis.

Such avoidance can be painful and makes it difficult to maintain a healthy self-image. You may feel self-conscious, helpless, embarrassed, angry or frustrated. And the more battered your self-image, the harder it becomes to expect that people will accept you. Constant worrying about people's perceptions and avoiding certain social situations may become a major source of stress in your life—stress that, ironically, has been shown to make psoriasis worse. Up to 60 percent of people with psoriasis identify stress as a key factor in worsening or triggering the disease.

Moreover, people with psoriasis are at increased risk for emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide and body image issues. In a study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, researchers found that about half of psoriasis patients became depressed and anxious when they were first diagnosed. A separate study suggested that up to 10 percent had thoughts of suicide.

One way to counter low self-image and negative feedback from strangers is to have a strong support network. Family and friends who understand what psoriasis is won't judge you and will be able to give you the positive reinforcement you need. Many people find it helpful to share their concerns with other people who have the same condition, such as in online discussion groups. Also, try speaking with your dermatologist about how having psoriasis affects your life: your doctor may recommend a trusted mental health professional who can provide good coping strategies.

Hopefully, with time you can begin to lower the emotional stress of psoriasis and help others see beyond the disease.

Questions to ask your doctor:

1. Can you recommend a support group?
2. Are there any treatments that could improve my quality of life?
3. Do you think that I should be evaluated for depression?