Living with Psoriasis: Tips for Women on Managing Symptoms

Psoriasis is more than just dry skin. It affects 1 in 50 people worldwide (2-3% of the world’s population). It is related to your immune system, not because you are eating or drinking something wrong. It is a chronic inflammatory disease, in which your immune system becomes overactive causing skin cells to multiply too quickly; this makes the skin build up into bumpy patches. It causes red, itchy, flaky skin often around elbows / knees / scalp. Sometimes it is localised to palms and soles only, which cracks as well and becomes too painful while working or walking. It involves joints as well in many patients and leads to painful / stiff / swollen joints called Psoriatic arthropathy.

The symptoms of psoriasis can sometimes go through cycles flaring for few weeks and followed by remission cycles. Having psoriasis causes risk of getting some other serious conditions like cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks, stroke, etc), mental problems (like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, etc.), liver diseases, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, etc.

Although there is no definitive cure at this time, there are many ways to manage your condition. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the disease.

• Mild disease - can be managed by creams / ointments / emollients

  
  

• Moderate / Severe disease - can be managed by oral tablets / moisturisers & ointments / phototherapy / biologic injections

Despite being fairly common, there are often misconceptions that it is contagious and spreads by touch or sitting near a person with psoriasis. That’s why it is a stigmatising condition, it makes you feel isolated. Often people become self-conscious about the appearance when they have flare-ups. Those itchy, flaky patches can impact your daily life in many ways - the clothes you wear, the places you want to go, the people you want to meet and hang on. People face all kinds of social rejections, which makes them timid and anxious.

It is also linked to audience anxiety and poor sleep quality. They feel embarrassed, disabled in profession, compromising their quality of life. Feeling of shame leads to suicidal thoughts. They are more prone to alcohol abuse, smoking, use of sedatives and antidepressants.

People stare and are disgusted, and that is the reason why a lot of people suffer - to see the prejudice of others. Because others look and judge, they are afraid to touch and to be touched.

// Psoriasis in women:

Psoriasis takes a higher toll in women. Though manifestations and incidence are similar in both the sexes, but the burden of disease is somewhat heavier in women. There can be a peak in psoriasis frequently at puberty and small peak at menopause, In terms of treatment, women respond better to systemic therapy than men but they also experience more adverse events of the treatment.

The usual monthly menstrual cycle does not have much impact, and pregnancy improves the symptoms.

Psoriasis affects patient’s personal life, sexual intimacy and social interaction leading to psychological burden.

//Tips for managing psoriasis in women:

Primarily would be to prevent dry skin - Keep your skin moist, moisturise every day. Choose your moisturiser based on how dry your skin is. Ointments / creams are thick and heavy and good at locking in moisture. Lotions are thinner and get absorbed quicker. Avoid hot water showers and limit the length of showers.

Use humidifier to keep the air in your home or office moist.

Use sunscreen every day - a sunburn is an injury to the skin, which may cause psoriasis to flare. So always apply sunscreen to prevent flares.

A good daily 10-15minutes of sun exposure before 10am or after 4pm can be considered as it can help controlling the flare-ups.

What to eat - Eat well balanced healthy diet. Avoid foods which cause inflammation like red meat, refined sugar, processed food and dairy foods, etc. Avoid alcohol / smoking as these two habits can worsen your symptoms. If you quit it, reduces the chance of fatty liver as well. Include intake of supplements like fish oil, omega-3, vit D which can help in correcting the disease.

What to wear - Try to wear more breathable clothing like cotton / rayon fabric and avoid thick or harsh (woolen) fabric which make you sweatier. Lighter coloured dresses / blouses will help greatly to minimise the visibility of flakes.

Keep the heels away if you have plantar psoriasis.

Limit your stress - Meditation, yoga and deep breathing exercise are great ways to manage your stress. Minimise screen time and spend more time outside.Connecting with others and sharing your struggles and experiences which you faced in your journey can help others to understand the disease more and also it might connect your friends / family, and they can support you. Educate yourself and others - fight stigma by educating yourself and others.

Get a professional / expert treatment plan - visit qualified dermatologists and get proper treatments as per the severity of the disease. If you doubt genital or inverse psoriasis, first have a proper consultation and check-up to make sure that rashes in the groin area / folds are of psoriasis. If confirmed, then take proper treatment in the form of cream / ointments and if not working well, can be tried oral tabs or injections.

// Dr Khushbu Goel, Specialist Dermatology and Cosmetology, Aster Day Surgery Centre & Aster Hospital, Mankhool

More information:

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/psoriasis-skin-care-tips

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/living-with/

https://www.psoriasis.org/life-with-psoriasis/