Living with psoriasis presents some expected experiences, such as being judged by other people because of the odd way the skin looks, having constant itching and remembering to moisturize, and keeping stress and workload low — since stress will make psoriasis worse.

But the condition also throws curveballs along the way sometimes. Hopefully by sharing these facts that surprised me, I can help someone else living with psoriasis who didn’t see these experiences coming.

Surprise 1: Psoriasis Does Not Always Itch

Initially, when I got psoriasis, a few individuals I spoke to on Instagram said that my skin would be itching all the time. In my situation, that is not quite true. Itching only happens to me when I leave my skin dry and not moisturized, especially during the cold, dry season.

Fortunately, there are many amazing skin care brands made specifically for psoriasis. I personally got a moisturizer made for psoriasis, and not just a generic moisturizer. I moisturize once in the mornings, and especially before going to sleep, and my itchiness goes away!

Surprise 2: It Goes Beyond the Skin

It’s easy to quickly look at your skin and think psoriasis is a skin condition, but what if I told you it doesn't necessarily fall into that category alone? Psoriasis is caused by immune system dysfunction that creates inflammation, which manifests on the skin. Hence, applying moisturizers and ointments does not solve the root cause — but it may reduce your psoriasis symptoms. You have to actually see what triggers your psoriasis to understand how to avoid flares.

Surprise 3: There Are Many Forms of Psoriasis

There are various forms of psoriasis. The most common one, and the one I have, is plaque psoriasis. Other forms of psoriasis include guttate, pustular, inverse, erythrodermic, and a few others. Psoriasis can also present in a variety of anatomic areas. For some individuals, those are the only areas where they have psoriasis, such as the scalp, nails, or genitals. It is important to understand your type of psoriasis so you can take the necessary steps to control it.

Fortunately, not all surprises are negative, but they are part of the journey with psoriasis. I’m grateful for other people in the psoriasis community, who help me understand that I’m not alone in this battle. We are stronger together!

My Perspective articles discuss psoriasis from a specific point of view. My Perspective articles don’t reflect the opinions of MyPsoriasisTeam staff, medical experts, partners, advertisers, or sponsors. MyPsoriasisTeam content isn't intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.