Managing psoriasis can sometimes feel overwhelming. Between pain, itching, and the surrounding emotional toll, it can feel like psoriasis is controlling you, instead of the other way around. If you feel like psoriasis is getting in the way of your life, you’re not alone. In a survey from the National Psoriasis Foundation, nearly 75 percent of respondents reported that psoriasis negatively impacted their quality of life and infringed on daily activities.¹

Add a comment below: Does psoriasis get in the way of of your daily activities?

Your psoriasis symptoms don’t have to keep you from living the life you want. It starts with accepting that psoriasis is part of your life and taking tangible steps to improve your physical and emotional well-being. You can start to take control with the Gaining Control With Psoriasis Challenge.

What’s the Gaining Control With Psoriasis Challenge?

There are small, tangible steps you can take today to improve your life with psoriasis. The challenges summarized below are designed to help put you in charge of your psoriasis.

For some people with psoriasis, visible symptoms like plaques or dandruff are the biggest factor negatively impacting their daily lives. A recent survey of members of MyPsoriasisTeam found that 80 percent sometimes feel embarrassed by their physical appearance.² One MyPsoriasisTeam member shared, “Summer, long sleeves, no lake time, MISERABLE!” Another member wrote, “I have to keep my legs covered up because I'm embarrassed of having psoriasis.”

Does psoriasis dictate your wardrobe too? Do you avoid wearing black because of flaky scalp? Do you wear long sleeves and long pants in hot weather?

What if you got dressed without considering if your plaques were visible? Consider pulling out the shirts or skirts at the back of the closet. Try wearing those items and see how it makes you feel. Perhaps wearing clothes outside your comfort zone will give you a new perspective on the role psoriasis plays in your daily life.

Sign Up for the Wardrobe Challenge

How are you taking care of yourself and your psoriasis? Are there steps you can take to improve your diet, add movement to your routine, or support your mental health?

If you’re unsure where to start, you’re in good company. In the survey of MyPsoriasisTeam members, a third of respondents reported lack of motivation to exercise and nearly a quarter reported lack of motivation to adjust their diet.²

Members reach out to each other for support and guidance on diet and exercise. “Just wondering if anybody had any success with reducing scalp psoriasis with a change of diet?” one member asked. Another member shared how physical activity triggers her symptoms, “Itchy leg drives me crazy. Heat and exercise are the worst.”

The emotional toll of psoriasis can sometimes make self-care challenging. “I don't think people realize the biggest fight with psoriasis is the emotional side,” a MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote, “They just see it as bad skin.” Remember that you’re never alone in this journey, and that your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health.

Sign Up for the Self-Care Challenge

Have you ever discussed feelings of self-consciousness, questions about nutrition and exercise, or your mental well-being with your dermatologist? Consider making an appointment with your doctor (in person, if appropriate, or via telehealth) to discuss what you learned through the Wardrobe Challenge and the Self-Care Challenge. Did you find yourself feeling better? Are you still concerned with how your symptoms impact your life?

Your doctor can help you evaluate your current treatment plan in light of your discoveries during the challenge. You may discover your treatment approach is working well or that it may be time to make a change. Your doctor is your partner as you learn to live well with psoriasis.

Sign Up for the Doctor Discussion Challenge

We encourage you to keep a journal to track how the challenges make you feel. Your journal can be a place where you chronicle your highs and lows, or notice patterns of what feels good and what is difficult. There will be questions to answer in your journal after each challenge.

You can use your journal entries to help guide your next doctor conversation. At the end of the challenge, you can look back at what you’ve written and feel proud. You’ve made an investment in yourself!

References

1. Bhosle, M. J., Kulkarni, A., Feldman, S. R., & Balkrishnan, R. (2006). Quality of life in patients with psoriasis. Health and quality of life outcomes, 4, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-4-35
2. Schneider, B. (2020) Impact of Psoriasis on Quality of Life. Unpublished manuscript