Whether it’s a loss, a breakup, or major changes at work, home, or school, big life disruptions can throw off your daily routine. And if you have psoriasis, they may also affect how you manage your condition. You may miss appointments, for example, or stop taking your medications. Over time, that may mean losing progress treating your psoriasis, making your symptoms harder to control.
If you’ve experienced a setback, the following strategies may help you get your psoriasis management back where you want it to be.
Schedule an appointment
Psoriasis is a different experience for everyone, and your best source of information will always be your healthcare provider (HCP). If you are overdue for an appointment, have experienced a recent flare of psoriasis symptoms, or have concerns about your health otherwise, make an appointment with your HCP.
If you're unable to go to a healthcare office, ask if your HCP is able to see you with a telehealth appointment. Telehealth enables patients and providers to connect remotely using computers and smart phones. More and more patients and HCPs began to use telehealth during the pandemic in an effort to reduce exposure to coronavirus.
Re-starting treatment
It is important to be as honest as possible with your HCPs, even though some topics may not be easy to discuss. Be honest if you have stopped taking a medication, have concerns about the cost of medication, or have discontinued any aspect of your psoriasis treatment. Remember, your HCP is there to help you.
If you need to resume treatment for psoriasis, discuss this with your HCP, who can advise you on how to do it safely. They can also answer any questions or address concerns about the lapse in treatment.
If you have experienced a flare
A flare is an exacerbation of psoriasis symptoms. Even in people who have had control over psoriasis for long periods of time, flares can occur, and they can occur for a variety of reasons.
If you have experienced a flare, you should speak to your HCP about it. You should also try and identify why the flare occurred. Common psoriasis triggers include:
- Stress
- Smoking (including secondhand smoke)
- Alcohol consumption
- Changes in weather (especially cold, dry weather)
- Injuries to the skin
- Stopping medications for psoriasis
Tracking symptoms
Keeping a symptom journal or keeping track of symptoms can provide helpful information to you and your HCP and help you stay on top of psoriasis management. If you aren’t keeping a journal or tracking symptoms, now is a great time to start. If you had been keeping a journal in the past, but have not been updating it, now is a great time to make it a part of your daily routine.
Reduce stress
Stress is a potential psoriasis trigger and can also make managing psoriasis more difficult in general—keeping up with skincare routines, eating well, exercising, and avoiding unhealthy habits can be very difficult when you are feeling stressed and worn out. It is important to find activities that help reduce stress and to make these a part of your day. Stress is also detrimental to physical and mental health; discuss how it might affect your well-being with an HCP.
Sources: Mark E. Czeisler, Kristy Marynak, et al.... + 12
- Mark E. Czeisler, Kristy Marynak, et al. "Delay or Avoidance of Medical Care Because of COVID-19–Related Concerns — United States, June 2020." Morbitity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2020. Vol. 69, No. 36.
- Qiaolin Wang, Yan Luo, et al. "Nonadherence to Treatment and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Psoriasis During the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Web-Based Survey." Patient Preference and Adherence, 2020. Vol. 14.
- Nicholas D. Brownstone, Quinn G. Thibodeaux, et al. "Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Biologic Therapy in Psoriasis: Infection Risk and Patient Counseling in Uncertain Times." Dermatology and Therapy, 2020. Vol. 10, No. 3.
- Penn Medicine News. "Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Should Continue Treatment Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic."
- National Psoriasis Foundation. "Your Doctor Will See You Now."
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. "COVID-19: Dermatology."
- Merck Manual Professional Version. "Psoriasis."
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Are Triggers Causing Your Psoriasis Flare-Ups?"
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. "Psoriasis."
- Mayo Clinic. "Psoriasis."
- Arlington Dermatology. "Tracking and Controlling Your Psoriasis Flares."
- National Psoriasis Foundation. "Life with Psoriasis."
- Mayo Clinic. "Stress Management."
