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6 Myths About Psoriasis
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Psoriasis is a difficult condition to live with—and not everyone knows the whole story. Learn how to separate fact from fiction.
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Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system attacks your body's skin tissues. This causes rough, itchy patches to develop on your skin. Even though psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in the U.S., there's a lot of misinformation out there. Can you separate myth from fact?
Myth: You can catch psoriasis from another person. Psoriasis is not contagious. Some people are more likely to develop psoriasis if they have certain genes. But even so, something needs to trigger psoriasis to develop in those people. Triggers could be emotional stress, skin injury, infection, weather changes, or reactions to medications.
Myth: Psoriasis occurs because your skin is dirty. Although psoriasis appears on the skin, there's a lot going on beneath the surface. Cleanliness has nothing to do with it. Whether you're clean or put off showering after your last trip to the gym, your genes and various triggering events determine if you'll develop the disease.
Myth: Psoriasis is so obvious it should be easy to diagnosis, right? Unfortunately, psoriasis can sometimes be hard to diagnosis because it looks like other skin diseases. Your doctor may need to look at a small sample of skin under a microscope to make a definitive diagnosis.
Myth: You don't need a specialist to treat psoriasis. Dermatologists are specially trained in diagnosing and treating skin diseases. They will be able to help you identify the disease and get you on the right path to treatment. By using Healthgrades' Guided Physician Search, it's easy to find a dermatologist who's the best fit for you.
Myth: Psoriasis fades away. Unfortunately, you can't outgrow psoriasis. Often, people experience cycles of flares, when their skin worsens for a period of time and then improves for a period of time. Some reach remission, meaning their symptoms disappear for a long time. But remission isn't always permanent.
Myth: Since there's no cure for psoriasis, many people believe that treatment doesn't work either. But that's not true. There are a wide variety of options to treat psoriasis including topical treatments applied to the skin, light treatment called phototherapy, and medicines you take orally or by injection. If you're not currently treating your psoriasis, it's not too late to start. And it's easy to find the right doctor to help you at Healthgrades.
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Managing Your Psoriasis: 3 Tips for People of Color
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Managing psoriasis – and even receiving a diagnosis – can be a challenge, especially for People of Color. Here’s how to feel confident in your care.
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Managing Your Psoriasis: 3 Tips for People of Color
1. Avoid triggers
People with psoriasis may benefit from avoiding certain triggers, which can cause flare-ups.
Work with your dermatologist to determine which foods, skin care products, allergens, and other irritants might be causing your psoriasis to flare.
For example, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and cigars can help you cut down on psoriasis exacerbations.
Other psoriasis triggers include:
- Specific foods- Skincare products like soaps and scented lotions- Cleaning products like detergents- Stress
2. Find doctors you trust
Everyone deserves high quality healthcare to manage their psoriasis. Your primary care doctor may be able to treat your condition, but you may need to see a dermatologist, a doctor specializing in psoriasis.
Psoriasis may appear differently on different skin tones, so look for a dermatologist with experience treating psoriasis in People of Color.
A dermatologist with cultural competence will know the nuances of treating scalp psoriasis in African American hair, for example.
And they’ll know that psoriasis plaques in skin of color can appear purple, brown, or gray – not just red.
Tips for finding the right doctor:If you prefer to communicate in a language other than English, you can find doctors fluent in additional languages using the search filters on Healthgrades.
Your insurance company may be able to help you find doctors who have training in cultural competency.
The websites SkinofColorSociety.org, Blackdoctor.org, Healthinherhue.com, and Huedco.com can connect you with a doctor you might feel more comfortable with.
3. Keep your skin moisturized
Taking care of your skin is key when you have psoriasis. Use skincare products formulated for sensitive skin, and talk to your dermatologist about your skincare routine to make sure you’re keeping your skin strong.
Tips to keep skin well moisturized:- Avoid super hot or super cold water while bathing- Use gentle cleansers (not soap!) with emollients that add moisture to the skin- Pat skin dry with a towel, leaving it slightly damp- Slather on a thick moisturizer right after bathing
Turn to Healthgrades. Connect with the right doctor to treat psoriasis at Healthgrades.com.
And share this video to help spread the word!
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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Psoriasis Diary #1: A Confidence Disaster
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Michelle Lee shares how her experience with psoriasis taught her the importance of self-love and acceptance.
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Michelle Lee:My name is Michelle, and this is my psoriasis diary entry number one.My psoriasis journey has definitely been a lot of ups and downs. When I first had symptoms, they were tiny, small bumps on my legs, and I thought nothing of it. I went to an urgent care doctor thinking it was an allergic reaction to something. He diagnosed me immediately with "pityriasis," and sent me home with a tube of steroid creams and said my skin should heal in a matter of days. Unfortunately, it did not heal in a matter of days. It got a lot more aggressive. It started off as small bumps, and then turned into these huge red welts all over my body. I ultimately had to go to two other doctors before officially getting diagnosed correctly. It was a very frustrating experience that made me feel incredibly alone. That was absolutely devastating. At that time, I was freshly 21 years old. I was an aspiring model, looking to go onto a dating reality TV show, which I aggressively got rejected and turned down because of the condition of my skin.While getting psoriasis negatively affected many parts of my life, I think the part that was most affected was my self-confidence and how I saw myself as a woman. I started to just stay inside my room. I would wear long sleeve shirts and long jeans in the middle of the summer because I was afraid to show my skin. And then, whenever I got the occasional confidence to go out, people would ask me if I was in a burn, and some people would even ask me if I had herpes. I can't even count the amount of times I ran into my home or into my car crying, because I was so... I was full of self-hate and the words of other people mattered so much to me. I kind of came to almost an acceptance that if this was what my skin would look like for the rest of my life, of course, as it comes and goes, that I need to learn how to accept it, and ultimately love it.The first real step to healing my psoriasis wasn't the different routes of medications, or acknowledgement from other people. It was the self-acceptance of my situation, and having love and appreciation for my body no matter its physical condition. My value couldn't come from the thoughts of other people, it really had to start from within.Psoriasis isn't an easy condition to deal with, but it's a lot easier to go through with self-love and acceptance.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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Psoriasis Diary #2: How I Found Love with Psoriasis
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When it came to her psoriasis, Michelle Lee had to tackle her own feelings of self-hate and embrace her skin before she could open herself up to love from others. She shares how she learned to stop listening to the critical voice in her head and instead start to love herself.
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Michelle:Hi, my name is Michelle and this is my psoriasis diary entry number two. We all know that psoriasis is a very physical condition and it affects most of the major parts of your body and yes, even the intimate areas. This can take a huge toll on your confidence and it did for me. When I had my first psoriasis flare, it probably took over 70 to 80% of my entire body, from my legs to my thighs, to my stomach, to my breasts, to my chest ,and to my face. It seriously affected my self-confidence, how I saw myself, and my love life.I came to a point where I was so disgusted with myself that I couldn't even look in the mirror. If I just simply walked by a mirror, I would have all these thoughts of anxiety, insecurity. I feel like every time I walked by a mirror was when I hated myself that much more. That's when I started to think, if I was so disgusted with my own self, how could anyone else see me as beautiful, or love me or accept me? After living like that for a while, I came to a point where I looked myself in the mirror and I was like enough. I cannot keep going on living like this hating myself every single day.So I started to reach out to some people in the psoriasis community and little by little, I started working on my confidence. I would start wearing t-shirts again, shorts. Show my legs or my shoulders and my arms and that then was a huge step for me if I think about it. The funny thing is that when I started to accept myself and work on my self-confidence was actually when I met the love of my life. So I went out and while I partied with my friends, I met this incredible guy who accepted me, and cherished me and loved me no matter what condition my skin was in.Here's the lesson in that story is that I was ultimately able to find love because I put myself out there and I let myself be vulnerable. Of course, it isn't easy or perfect all the time. I was often insecure about my naked body and I would try to hide my flares, my skin with lingerie, or I would put my hand over my stomach or kind of over my chest like this just to hide any part of the skin I could. It wasn't about my partner not showing me enough love. It was that little voice in the back of my head. The one that was telling me that my skin was looking ugly, that I should hide myself, that I should be ashamed.It was my own self thoughts of negativity. It was me overthinking and truth is I was really hurting myself and limiting myself with these thoughts of self-hate. When I started to ignore that voice in the back of my head, that's when I realized that my self-worth didn't and doesn't come from how I look physically, but it comes from my own self-love.My tips for overcoming insecurities and self-doubt is to look at yourself naked every day. I know this sounds corny and unrealistic, but I'm serious. Look at your naked body every single day, embrace every flaw, every curve, every mark, and tell yourself that you're beautiful no matter what. Also, remember that you're not alone. I found so much strength and love in the psoriasis community, in my friends and my family.So once again, my biggest takeaway is that the most important thing that helped my love life and my sex life was my confidence -- was building my self-confidence. I'm going to leave you guys today with a quote that I live by and it's that when you love yourself, you can accept love from others. It all begins with you.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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All About Telehealth for Psoriasis
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All About Telehealth for Psoriasis
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All About Telehealth for Psoriasis
Telehealth allows doctors to care for people virtually over a phone call, text message, or most commonly, video chat.
Although some situations require an in-person visit, telehealth is a great option when you can't get to the doctor's office for your psoriasis.
If you're new to telehealth, here's what you need to know.
Medicare will cover telehealth visits just like in-person visits, but state Medicaid programs and private insurers vary, so confirm your coverage in advance.
With telehealth, even though you're not in the doctor's office, your private health information is still covered by HIPAA, so it will remain confidential and secure.
Although your dermatologist can't give you a physical exam via telehealth, they can write prescriptions and offer quality care, especially if you prepare in advance.
Before your telehealth appointment:- List any psoriasis symptoms (including dates and severity), such as skin redness, scaliness, itchiness, or burning, or joint soreness- Take note of any triggers, like weather, stress, smoking, alcohol, or certain medications- Document any side effects from your psoriasis treatments, such as skin thinning, skin irritation, nausea, headache, or sensitivity to light- Record your vital signs if you own a thermometer, blood pressure monitor, or another device- Compile a list of your health conditions and all medications, including any creams or light therapy treatments- Write down questions you have for your dermatologist- Charge your computer or phone- Make sure your internet is reliable- Download any telehealth apps your specific provider may require- Find a quiet, private space to conduct the call- Be prepared with pen and paper or a note-taking app
Turn to Healthgrades to connect with the right dermatologist to treat psoriasis via telehealth. And share this video to spread the word!
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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A Day In My Life: Psoriasis
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Mike's psoriasis can be difficult to manage, but he tries to take it day by day.
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Mike: My name is Mike. I have psoriasis and this is a day in my life. I had issues with my scalp and then maybe a couple patches on the elbow. And the doctor then diagnosed it as psoriasis, and we started initial treatments there. Things will work for a few months at a time, and then the body gets immune, which is where I am now.
First thing I do when I wake up in the morning, I'll take a shower, pat dry, and take my back scratcher and scratch away just to get the excess skin. Probably a couple of times a day. If I go outside and come home, before I go to sleep, it's the same thing. Now let me show you my leg. There's certain spots where it's a very thin area, so when I scratch on it, it will cause bleeding. I see it and I just want to scratch at it. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it any better, but my hands don't listen to me and they keep scratching and then my entire back.
Some people look at it like it's a hygienic issue. Like, "Oh, they have all this because they're dirty." No, it's an autoimmune issue. My immune system creates skin cells too quick, as if I have some type of cut, even if I don't. Then all the excess skin is what ends up shedding off. The one thing I wish people would understand is that it's not contagious.
This is a constant routine, I'll do this a couple times a week. Sometimes I'll get lazy and then my girlfriend will yell at me and I'll clean. She motivates me to clean better because I feel sorry for her. It's bad enough she has to sleep on a bed filled with dead skin, but luckily I have somebody that's accepting of me and all my issues.
Stress is definitely the leading cause of it, and the problem is, life is full of constant stress. The only thing you can change is how you deal with the stress. I try to meditate and just throw on my headphones, listen to music and zone out, try to calm down, and forget about everything. Plus, I like to joke around. I could be miserable on the inside, but I don't like to project the misery to other people.
I'm down to my last five unemployment checks and I'm not trying to wait until the end to scramble and find something. I spend 90% of my day checking my emails for anything that goes on. The one thing with having psoriasis is it's not just the plaques that I'm dealing with. I also have psoriatic arthritis. If you could look at my hands, you could see the fingers on my left hand are much more swollen. It's just joint damage. I can bend this finger a little bit. These two, I can't bend it all.
Luckily, 99% of the things that I do in work will be through the computer. I can manage. Tomorrow I have a job interview at 1:30 and I have to worry about what am I going to wear tomorrow. I have to look sharp so they don't notice the skin coming off the top of my head.
Wendy: I know it makes you nervous. I think this one would go better with the suit.
Mike: The blue one? I kind of like the blue.
Wendy: He goes through challenges. Right now, his skin has been the worst ever.
Mike: As long as I have a cotton tee shirt underneath, it kind of covers it. But if I put on a wool sweater with nothing, then it's going to be... Then I have hell to pay.
Wendy: Emotionally, I try to motivate him when he has the major breakouts, letting him know that he will get through it.
Mike: In the beginning, I was always very leery on who noticed the plaques and the psoriasis and everything, but over the years, I'm more worried about the discomfort that I feel than the discomfort that other people looking at it feel. Hang in there, and learn to live with it. Hopefully, find yourself a good partner that's going to be supportive and understanding and help you get through the tough times.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
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My Psoriasis Confession: Alisha
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My Psoriasis Confession: Alisha
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I am Alisha, and this is my psoriasis confession.
10 years ago, I was working at a call center, and at the time I was 90% covered with psoriasis. Many times I covered up. I wore long sleeves, long pants, no matter how hot it was. However, I could not hide the psoriasis that was on my neck, as well as my hands.
One day when I was outside taking a break, a coworker came up to me. He started small talk, and as we were talking, he said, hey, what's that on your skin? And I fumbled to try to explain that I had psoriasis. But before I could finish, he stopped, he looked at me and he said, you're a really pretty girl, but your skin is ugly.
And I just remember having this overwhelming feeling of emotion and just running to the bathroom, calling my boyfriend at the time and crying.
I think the biggest thing that scares me right now is the future with psoriasis and the coronavirus. I'm currently on a biologic, and I really had to advocate for myself with my doctor in order to keep using my biologic, because she was really concerned about me being on that medicine during this pandemic.
So right now, I'm just worried about whether or not I would be able to continue my medicine in the future, whether or not I would come in contact with the coronavirus, and then of course, there's always that thought in the back of my mind on whether or not the treatment I'm using is going to work, how long it will work and the side effects that I might experience. So in regards to my psoriasis, those are a few things that are just running through my mind.
So the silver lining with this condition for me personally, is that it has given me purpose bigger than myself. I never thought in a million years, I will be speaking out publicly about a disease that just impacted me negatively for most of my life.
But now I speak out about it. I challenge people to love themselves unconditionally, whether it's psoriasis or something else that they look at as a flaw. I've gotten the opportunity to travel the world and meet all types of different people from all different backgrounds, and it was because of my struggles of living with psoriasis.
So I no longer struggle with this disease. I strive with it, I inspire with it, and so that is the silver lining that I have discovered while living with a visible chronic condition like psoriasis.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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5 Things You Didn't Know About Psoriasis
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5 Things You Didn't Know About Psoriasis
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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Psoriasis
1. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning your immune system is mistakenly triggered to speed up the growth of skin cells. This causes itchy, raised plaques to form on the skin.
2. Psoriasis looks different depending on the color of your skin. Plaques on fair skin may look pink and silvery. Plaques on darker skin may appear purple, dark brown, or gray.
3. Between 10 and 30% of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis, in which joints become swollen, stiff, and painful.
4. Psoriasis is not contagious and can't be spread to others through physical contact.
5. People with psoriasis have a high risk of depression, and stress is a common trigger for flare-ups. That's why prioritizing your mental health is a crucial part of managing psoriasis.
Turn to Healthgrades to connect with the right dermatologist to treat psoriasis. And share this video to help spread the word!
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
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5 Tips for Thriving With Psoriasis
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Dealing with a psoriasis diagnosis can be overwhelming, but these patients share tips on how to stay in control--and even thrive--with psoriasis.
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Lorenzo: Why me? It hurts. I don't get it. I thought I was healthy. What am I going to do? I didn't know anything at the time, so it was scary.
Brittany: It was really stressful, and it was really aggravating, and it was really depressing.
Lorenzo: Uncomfortable feeling in your own skin, literally. In my mind, I keep hearing ashamed, because I hid a lot, I didn't want to be anywhere.
Wendy: It's irritating, it's red, which then is more visible to other people.
Vanetta: I am so embarrassed to wear short-sleeved shirts.
Brittany: I had to cover up in the summer, I had to wear long sleeves and pants. And you could still see it in certain places, on my hands.
Vanetta: And I'm uncomfortable to be around other people because I have a lot of skin irritations on my arm.
Brittany: People avoided me, out and out. They didn't want to ask any questions, they didn't want to be near me. I was mad at first, but they didn't understand. If you didn't understand it and you saw somebody who was covered in these spots, you'd be petrified, you'd be like, "I don't want to be near this person."
Lorenzo: It's frightening, especially when you don't know anything about it.
Brittany: They just don't know, people are afraid of what they don't know.
Lorenzo: I just needed to relax and just say, "Okay, what the heck am I going to do?"
Brittany: It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders when I spoke to other people in my community and they told me that even though there isn't a cure, there are ways to manage my psoriasis.
Lorenzo: I wrote a journal, it keeps me in check. I know what I'm eating, I know what I'm feeling, I know how to handle it. I know how to keep it at bay.
Brittany: I focus on my body, I focus on my mental health.
Lorenzo: We can actually live our lives.
Brittany: The main thing that helped me was UV light therapy.
Lorenzo: I do the biologic. Four months into it, started clearing up, clearing up, and this is me.
Wendy: I feel that psoriasis, in a way, has given me just a different outlook on life and a larger voice that I can help other people that don't feel as empowered as I do.
Brittany: So if I can help other people, that's the most important thing to me.
Lorenzo: Be open to it, it actually feels good if you get to help somebody. I mean, if one little tip that I just said helps somebody, we're all winning, right?
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Understanding Psoriasis
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It’s not a rash, it’s not just dry skin—it’s psoriasis. Psoriasis patients and experts share what they want you to know about this chronic condition.
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Venetta: My name is Venetta and this is my daughter ...
Skyla: Skyla.
Hailey: My name is Hailey and this is my mom.
Jessica: I'm Jessica and this is my daughter ...
Sadie: Sadie.
Aleidy: What tips do you have for children which sensitive skin?
Hailey: Well, I think that you guys shouldn't scratch 'cause then it makes it itch more. Use mild detergent and mild soap. Don't wear rough clothing 'cause then it could make it irritated. The most important thing, moisturize every day. If it still itches, tell a parent and they could help you.
Skyla: One time I was using a soap which was my mom's and then my legs broke out and then slowly my arms and then my stomach and then my back.
Hailey: Detergents and soaps-
Aleidy: Jeans.
Hailey: And jeans, sometimes.
Venetta: So we have to stick to like the same detergent, the same lotion, and the same soap.
Hailey: I'm supposed to stay away from food coloring and acidic foods like milk. I can't eat chocolate which is really bad 'cause I love chocolate.
Jessica: Can you tell me what it feels like?
Sadie: A bug bite.
Skyla: Itchy.
Hailey: It feels really uncomfortable and annoying and I wish it can just go away.
Sadie: Once I tried putting a Band-aid on it but it didn't help.
Hailey: I would scratch so much it would start getting red and sometimes it would start bleeding.
Skyla: I scratched so hard until it burns.
Hailey: You know like that feeling when you see like a cake and you're not supposed to eat it. It's like that for me. That I wanna scratch so badly. I try my best not to.
Sadie: Usually I see like this big bump that's like pinkish reddish.
Hailey: Like people were asking, "What's that on your skin?" And then I said, "It's eczema." And they're like, "Is it contagious?" And I have to keep on saying, "No, it isn't."
Aleidy: It makes me feel sad that she might think that people might judge her based on her skin. But I'm also very proud of her because she's a strong girl and a very confident girl.
Hailey: I don't really worry about that because I take care of it and I try my best.
Skyla: When my body breaks out, I put a lot of lotion and I have to use it to get the scars away.
Sadie: I call you and you put the cream on it.
Hailey: I put petroleum jelly on because it helps with my dry skin.
Jessica: How does it make it feel?
Sadie: It stings a little bit. Then there's no more bump or pinkish reddish on it.
Jessica: Hurray!
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Coping With Psoriasis: You're Not Alone
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Psoriasis doesn’t just affect your skin—it affects your self-esteem, your social life, and your overall mental health. Psoriasis patients share the tools they’ve learned to help manage their condition.
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Tiffany: Part of me wants to be like, "Screw it, psoriasis. I'm going to wear a tank top. You're going to deal with it. You're going to love it. It's going to be great." Then, 90% of the time I'm like, "Just put the cardigan on. I don't even want to deal with the looks today, you know?"
Tiffany: I was on a date with a guy and he touched my leg and he freaked... He literally freaked out, he had to step away.
Dr. Ahluwalia: It affects interactions with other people, with family, with friends.
Dr. Rieder: Psoriasis patients are a unique group of people because they are suffering a very stigmatizing illness.
Tiffany: It's something that I think about every single day.
Emily: It requires additional planning when I'm going outside. I have to think about putting additional layers on.
Lorenzo: The fact that you have something wrong with you... I don't even know why I'm getting emotional about this.
Dr. Rieder: I let them know that, first of all, it's a chronic disease.
Dr. Shah: It can be very well managed with the medications that we have, but it's important to be in the care of someone who's going to see you over time.
Tiffany: I think I make it more of a big deal than other people, because it's such an insecurity.
Emily: It makes me self-conscious to wear revealing clothing.
Lorenzo: I used to care, but that ended very quickly.
Emily: I just try to make light of the situation, because I know it's nothing life-threatening.
Tiffany: If you think that you have psoriasis or you're worried about it, my first instinct is to tell you, don't worry, you're not alone.
Lorenzo: There are answers out there, or there's communities out there. There are websites out there.
Emily: It's not contagious. You will not contract psoriasis by touching it or being near it.
Lorenzo: It's not end-all, okay? It's just part of your day. Take it one step at a time.
Tiffany: It doesn't have to be as scary as you think.
Lorenzo: My life's not going to end tomorrow because I just have a chronic disease that flares up.
Tiffany: Let's just make the best of it.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
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Treating Psoriasis: A Personal Choice
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There are many treatment options for psoriasis, and they all come with risks and benefits. Ultimately, whether you treat with topical creams, light therapy, or medications, you and your doctor will decide the best treatment path together.
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Lorenzo: Well, whenever I was diagnosed with the psoriasis, of course, the next step is, "Okay, what are we going to do about this?" "What medications am I going to take?" Or, "What medications aren't I going to take?"
Dr. Ahluwalia: Usually, it's a discussion between myself and the patient.
Lorenzo: So he started me, which thank goodness he did, with something topical. It was just an ointment.
Dr. Sejal Shah: Typically, first line therapy is topical treatment.
Lorenzo: -which helped. It just didn't help enough.
Dr. Sejal Shah: Often, for moderate to severe psoriasis, we look at more aggressive options like phototherapy, oral medications, and injectable biologic treatments.
Lorenzo: He needed to take these steps to find out what's going to work for me.
Dr. Evan Rieder: Phototherapy is giving people controlled exposure to a very narrow band of ultraviolet light-
Dr. Sejal Shah: This is generally done in a very, very controlled environment.
Dr. Evan Rieder: -that people get exposed to for about three times a week for just a couple minutes a time.
Lorenzo: When we progress through the diagnosis and me trying different options, topical to oral, eventually my case, I did have to take a biologic.
Dr. Ahluwalia: A biologic is a protein-derived drug that's made from living cells.
Dr. Sejal Shah: And they interrupt the immune process involved in psoriasis.
Tiffany: It really has cut my psoriasis down significantly.
Lorenzo: It did take a while. I probably didn't see actual results for at least a month, a month and a half.
Dr. Evan Rieder: Often, there is some trial and error that goes into finding the perfect treatment regimen for someone.
Lorenzo: Everybody has to go through the steps of investigation.
Tiffany: Try all of the options first before you go to an injectable.
Lorenzo: You need to find out what works for you, but it's manageable.
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Psoriasis: Why Switching to Another Biologic Can Help
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Biologic medications have shown great success in helping psoriasis patients clear their skin. However, sometimes it’s necessary to switch to a new biologic—and that’s okay.
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Dr. Jaber: Biologics are a new class of psoriasis medications that are really wonder drugs, and they can be life-changing for our patients. They're immune medications, and there's many different types, and they all affect the immune system in different ways. They can take patients that are totally covered in psoriasis and clear them. Some are oral and some are injectable. Some are injected by the doctor, some are injected by each patient. For some patients, one biologic drug might be extremely effective, but, for somebody else, you might want to switch to a different biologic drug.
Dr. Shah: Psoriasis medications are commonly switched, and this is because either people are not getting an appropriate treatment response or they're experiencing side effects.
Wendy: What ends up happening, unfortunately, for most patients is, after a few years, their biologic will stop working for them, and then they will need to try a new one.
Dr. Goldberg: Another reason is some of the newer drugs are simply more effective. Instead of 75 or 50% clear, they can get them 90% clear. There are certain medications now that you only have to do one injection every three months, as opposed to doing it once a week.
Dr. Shah: We've been able to tailor the newer biologics to specifically target the immune system aspects that are active in psoriasis. When it comes to switching medications, I think some of the biggest myths are that people sometimes think that they need to stop their current medication, and that creates a little bit of fear. Sometimes we can transition them without a break at all. The other myth is, again, that sometimes the medication is stronger, so they may have more side effects, or they may have more immunosuppression. That's also not always the case, as we may be switching them from a more broad biologic to one that's more specific to psoriasis.
Dr. Jaber: Some people are worried that, "Oh, I'm on one drug, I can't switch to another good drug." That's not true.
Dr. Strachan: There are so many more options to treat psoriasis now. It's important for patients to be optimistic, if something's not working, to explore what the other options are.
Wendy: We're so lucky that there are these new biologics out right now. It's given people a new lease on life.
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Psoriasis: My Personal Journey
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Psoriasis can change your life, but these patients are proof that finding the right treatment can put you back in control.
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Wendy: My name is Wendy, and I'm living with psoriasis. Seven years ago, I came down with a strep throat infection, and after my strep throat infection, my body was covered with red dots.
Vanetta: When I was 13 years old, I started to get a lot of round dry patches on my skin.
Brittany: At first I just had little spots, like red spots all over me, and white spots all over me. But then my body was actually 95% covered. Very painful, and very itchy, and just uncomfortable.
Vanetta: My mother was not familiar with psoriasis. She thought it was a fungus or something.
Brittany: At first I thought it was eczema, or... I didn't know. And the scariest thing is not knowing.
Lorenzo: And you also don't know anything about it, as in what can help it go away, or control it.
Wendy: I had no idea what was going on. So I went to a dermatologist, and the dermatologist that I saw had told me that I had psoriasis.
Brittany: As upset as I was, and I was devastated, hearing that it was manageable was so uplifting to me.
Wendy: Currently, I'm using a biologic treatment which has cleared my skin. I had tried steroid topicals, I had tried an oral medication.
Lorenzo: So you have to do this investigation. You have to be a detective of your own body.
Brittany: I really just focus on my diet. I focus on working out. I focus on my body. I focus on my mental health.
Lorenzo: Because emotions and stress also is a trigger.
Brittany: A trigger is something that causes a flare-up.
Lorenzo: I had to know when I was getting flared up. So I actually got really organized and I kept a journal. It's very therapeutic. I tell you what, if I didn't have psoriasis, I probably wouldn't be who I am today, because you have to really know your stuff, or you, very well.
Brittany: It is so manageable. You can manage it through so many different areas. You're going to get through it. You're going to be okay. That's the end of it.
Lorenzo: I know how to handle it. I know how to keep it at bay. You don't control me, psoriasis. At all.
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Psoriasis: You Can Own It
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Psoriasis doesn’t have to ruin your life—if you find the right doctor, determine the best treatment, and commit to living a healthy lifestyle, you can stay on top of your condition.
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Dr. Jaber: If you're newly diagnosed with psoriasis, the first thing I would tell you is take a deep breath and relax.
Brittany: It's scary, and you're allowed to be scared.
Lorenzo: It's frightening, especially when you don't know anything about it.
Wendy: A lot of people just don't know even where to start. One thing I always recommend, which is what helped me, is finding a good doctor because psoriasis is not a one-size-fits-all disease.
Dr. Goldman: Because it is a chronic condition, I think it is important to form a partnership with your dermatologist so to optimize therapy.
Dr. Jaber: There are so many wonderful treatments for psoriasis and it's just as important for each patient to determine what the best treatment is for them.
Wendy: A topical might work for some people, whereas it might not work for other people, like it didn't work for me.
Dr. Jaber: She might choose an oral medication or injectable medication, but it really depends on each patient.
Wendy: Currently I'm using a biologic treatment, which has cleared my skin.
Dr. Goldman: I'm not necessarily their counselor or their internist, but I'm going to mention that a healthy lifestyle can improve psoriasis. Go out there, be physically active. I think a little sunlight helps people.
Brittany: You know, to eat better, to treat your body better.
Dr. Goldman: Several patients have lost weight and their psoriasis got better.
Brittany: Try meditation, try yoga, try something.
Lorenzo: I wrote a journal. I know what I'm eating, I know what I'm feeling, I know what the weather is, did it flare up here, did it flare up there. You actually can live your life around this chronic disease.
Dr. Strachan: Having psoriasis can be stressful, and stress can cause psoriasis, so managing your stress is important.
Brittany: There's going to be bad moments, and you're allowed to have bad or sad days. Have the sad day, and that's it, the next day you have to get up and start your life over again.
Lorenzo: Talk to people, help people.
Wendy: I do actually go to a therapist and that seems to help me a lot.
Brittany: Find a community or a friend or somebody that has psoriasis.
Dr. Jaber: Go on the National Psoriasis Foundation website, it's a great resource for patients.
Brittany: We're all there for each other, we're a family.
Wendy: Don't give up. Don't just live with the disease because you can get help and you can live a normal everyday life. There are treatment options out there, there is support groups out there.
Lorenzo: Own this disease, I know that sounds funny. You really can maneuver your life around it. It's not going to ruin me, it's not an end all at all. It's manageable, you can live with it, you can own it.
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5 Tips For People With Psoriasis From People With Psoriasis
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Psoriasis can be a challenging diagnosis, but with the right support and a positive mindset, you can stay in control.
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5 Tips For People With Psoriasis From People With Psoriasis
Be as active as you can. Exercise relieves stress and helps you feel your best! - Alisha B.
Finding the right doctor can be like dating. Don’t stop until you find a dermatologist who really listens to you. - Summer S.
Keep a journal to track your meals, mood, and symptoms. Knowing the details will help you stay in control. - Lorenzo B.
Self-care is essential. Listen to your body and take time to relax. - Summer S.
Stay positive. If one thing doesn’t work, another might! - Alisha B.
Turn to Healthgrades to connect with the right dermatologist for your psoriasis.
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What Not to Say to Someone With Psoriasis
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Avoid embarrassing social situations by knowing what you shouldn't say to someone who has psoriasis.
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What Not to Say to Someone With Psoriasis
#1. “What’s wrong with your skin?”#2. “That looks contagious”#3. “Maybe you just need to moisturize more”$4. “Try this diet my cousin’s friend swears by”#5. “You’re lucky it’s just a skin disease”
Turn to Healthgrades to find a doctor who knows just what to say.
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6 Myths About Psoriasis
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Psoriasis is a difficult condition to live with—and not everyone knows the whole story. Learn how to separate fact from fiction.
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Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system attacks your body's skin tissues. This causes rough, itchy patches to develop on your skin. Even though psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in the U.S., there's a lot of misinformation out there. Can you separate myth from fact?
Myth: You can catch psoriasis from another person. Psoriasis is not contagious. Some people are more likely to develop psoriasis if they have certain genes. But even so, something needs to trigger psoriasis to develop in those people. Triggers could be emotional stress, skin injury, infection, weather changes, or reactions to medications.
Myth: Psoriasis occurs because your skin is dirty. Although psoriasis appears on the skin, there's a lot going on beneath the surface. Cleanliness has nothing to do with it. Whether you're clean or put off showering after your last trip to the gym, your genes and various triggering events determine if you'll develop the disease.
Myth: Psoriasis is so obvious it should be easy to diagnosis, right? Unfortunately, psoriasis can sometimes be hard to diagnosis because it looks like other skin diseases. Your doctor may need to look at a small sample of skin under a microscope to make a definitive diagnosis.
Myth: You don't need a specialist to treat psoriasis. Dermatologists are specially trained in diagnosing and treating skin diseases. They will be able to help you identify the disease and get you on the right path to treatment. By using Healthgrades' Guided Physician Search, it's easy to find a dermatologist who's the best fit for you.
Myth: Psoriasis fades away. Unfortunately, you can't outgrow psoriasis. Often, people experience cycles of flares, when their skin worsens for a period of time and then improves for a period of time. Some reach remission, meaning their symptoms disappear for a long time. But remission isn't always permanent.
Myth: Since there's no cure for psoriasis, many people believe that treatment doesn't work either. But that's not true. There are a wide variety of options to treat psoriasis including topical treatments applied to the skin, light treatment called phototherapy, and medicines you take orally or by injection. If you're not currently treating your psoriasis, it's not too late to start. And it's easy to find the right doctor to help you at Healthgrades.
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Low Fat Greek Chicken Bar
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Low fat, high protein, loaded with deliciousness: learn how to prepare our Greek chicken bar and spice up tomorrow’s lunch or dinner.
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A tasty meal, low in fat, high in protein: introducing the Greek Chicken Bar, served family style. It's flavorful and healthy and will have you feeling energized and satisfied. Let's dig in. In a bowl, combine lemon juice, oil, dried oregano and garlic. The lemon juice in this recipe gets you one step closer to meeting your daily vitamin C requirements, aiding your immune system as well as collagen production, helping to keep your skin looking radiant and bright. Pour the marinade into a reusable zip top, then add chicken and smush around to thoroughly combine. Let everything sit and soak together for 20 minutes to one hour.
Here's the deal with the oils. Avocado oil can withstand higher cooking temperatures than olive oil, but some prefer the taste of olive oil over avocado oil. So it's totally up to you. Preheat your grill or stove top grill pan to medium heat. Grill roughly five minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer measures the internal temperature at 165 degrees. Now for the low fat cucumber herb yogurt sauce. In a medium bowl, stir one seeded and grated English cucumber, one cup of non-fat Greek yogurt, one tablespoon of lemon zest, one tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of chopped mint leaves, two tablespoons of chopped dill, and one teaspoon of salt.
Beyond the yummy crunch and fiber that cucumbers provide, it's also one of the most hydrating foods out there. So, it may even quench your thirst. Both dill and mint are booming with antioxidants, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. You may not realize it, but this meal can actually benefit your gut thanks to the probiotics and the Greek yogurt. These healthy probiotics found in the sauce help to calm stress, ease moodiness, and can even boost the immune system. So I certainly recommend you generously drizzle that yogurt sauce. Arrange your Greek Chicken Bar family style and build as you wish. This low fat and light option can be combined in so many different ways. A bowl, plate, wrap, or even a salad, you can't lose. This meal has it all, the lean protein from the chicken mixed with the Greek yogurt sauce, herbs and spices lend both health and low fat nutrition to your lunch or dinner.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
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Eggcellent Avocado Toast
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Start your day right with this super tasty “eggcellent” avocado toast–it’s healthy, easy to make, and can keep blood sugar levels balanced.
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Avocado toast is an easy meal to put together. It provides the perfect combo of healthy fats, satisfying protein, and slow-digesting carbohydrates that help keep your blood sugar low and stable.
Start with a small bowl. Pick a ripe avocado, cut open and mash the avocado with a fork, leaving it slightly chunky into the bowl. Stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice, a quarter teaspoon of ground white pepper, one teaspoon of salt, a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder, and a quarter teaspoon of sweet paprika.
Avocados are still one of the most popular fruits out there. It's also one of the most nutrient-dense fruits, too, aiding in weight and cholesterol management and hormonal balance.
Drizzle a small amount of oil in a non-stick sizzling pan and let that egg fry to perfection. An egg, no matter how it's cooked, is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and protein.
Toast one piece of wholegrain bread until it's brown and crisped. Top the avocado mixture and then add your fried egg. Between the avocado and fried egg, sriracha, pickled red onion, pumpkin seeds, and scallions, you have a meal that's overloaded with beneficial antioxidants that help keep the body healthy while fighting off diseases and certain cancers.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
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Tahini Miso Salmon
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This tahini miso salmon recipe might look intimidating, but it’s a quick and easy way to pack a ton of flavor into a healthy, anti-inflammatory meal.
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Inflammation can wreak havoc on the body, but thankfully, good nutrition and a good diet can help reduce those symptoms. This tahini miso salmon recipe may sound intimidating, but I promise it's way easier than you think.
I suggest prepping the rice or soba noodles in advance to get that out of the way. We're going to start off with making the glaze. And here we have miso paste, which is made from fermented soybeans, so it has a ton of good-for-you probiotics. This is tahini paste, which is basically ground-up sesame seeds. So it's packed with a ton of antioxidants and vitamin E.
Next, we have rice wine vinegar, which is fermented, so it's also good for your gut. And this is coconut aminos and coconut aminos are a healthier alternative to soy sauce. So it's also lower in sodium and it's also gluten-free. And finally, my favorite, we have ginger. And ginger is so good for you, but it's also great for digestion.
So let's whisk this all together. If you're wondering where to get the miso and the tahini, you can check out the international aisle at your local grocery store or simply shop online. All right. So now we're going to glaze the salmon. So what you're going to do is just brush these delicately. You could put on as much or as little as you'd like. I like to add a lot for more flavor, but also for more nutrition. So now we can broil the salmon for six to eight minutes.
Now our salmon is ready, so let's take one of these. Oh, see how beautiful that is. And I'm going to put it on the plate over here. And as you can see, we have the soba noodles, which is made of buckwheat, which is a great source of plant-based protein. What I love about salmon is that it's packed with energizing vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. And it also has anti-inflammatory fatty acids, which are great for our heart health and also can help reduce cholesterol and can even boost our memory.
All right, I'm excited to dig into this, but before that, we have to garnish it, of course. To make this even more gorgeous, we're going to add some sesame seeds to the top. And sesame seeds are packed with vitamin E, which is great for immunity. And then we're going to add a little bit of these scallions, which also have a ton of antioxidants. And then we're going to finish with a touch of cilantro. And cilantro is great if you want to freshen your breath. The salmon looks gorgeous and you are going to love it. This dish is overpowered with anti-inflammatory ingredients, so it's great for your heart and great for your health.
2022 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced
or reprinted without permission from Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Use
of this information is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.
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