How Frustrating Psoriasis Can Initially Be

When you’re first diagnosed with psoriasis, you’re likely to have a lot of questions about the condition; what exactly it is, why you’ve got it and if it can be treated.

There’s a lot to process when you’re first diagnosed and you will have to learn that the condition is something that will be with you, will come and go and will get better and worse at different stages.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my condition recently. I am approaching about 18 years since I was first diagnosed and during that time, I’ve had my ups and downs, highs and lows, tried various treatments and now, finally feel at a good stage in my journey.

Frustrations that come along with psoriasis

But that’s not to say I don’t still find elements of that journey frustrating. Initially, a lot of the frustrations can come from learning that psoriasis cannot be cured. In other words, yes, there are treatments, but the condition will never fully leave you even when you’re in remission; there’s a chance of it returning and breaking out on your body once more.

Then there’s how unsightly it looks. When the condition is widespread and affects visible parts of the body, such as the face, scalp, arms and legs (particularly during the summer months when you wear a T-shirt and shorts), that can be pretty frustrating too. People can stare, make rude remarks or you may just not feel happy and don’t want to show off your plaques.

In addition, it can become frustrating when shopping for new clothes or bedding. Clothes because your patches may bleed or flakes may make your condition more visible when they fall onto your clothes. You may have to throw out lots of clothes or regularly change what you buy.

And bleeding and itching can be another annoyance. You may be out and about living your life when you suddenly get the urge to itch. This can cause your patch to bleed and leave you with blood stains on your clothes. Horrible, particularly if you’re with friends or on a date.

Impact of treatments

You’ve also got the annoyance of your treatment plan not working. I’ve discussed this before, but with psoriasis, you will be trying different treatments throughout your life. Some will work. Some won’t. And others you will have to come off because they either stop working or come with nasty side effects.

That leads me on nicely to the side effects of medication. This in itself is another frustration of me. Because psoriasis attacks the immune system, you are prone to infections and other side effects because a lot of medications can suppress the immune system. If you’re worried about any of this, it is best to speak to your medical team.

What I’m trying to say here is yes there are a lot of frustrations with psoriasis. It’s unsightly, bleeds and has side effects with its many medications, but over time, you will learn to love yourself and not let these problems affect you. You will find the right treatment which will let you live a happy, good life that you enjoy. Keep going, you’ll get there.