I have moderate to severe psoriasis

If you have psoriasis, your doctor may have explained to you a bit about the symptoms. In short, psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that most commonly causes red skin patches, often covered with silver flaky scales, which form on areas of your body where new skin cells grow faster than normal.

You have many options for treating your moderate to severe psoriasis. Systemic medications (medications taken by mouth or injected) are usually the treatment used for moderate to severe psoriasis. They are often combined with topical medications or light therapy. These treatment options are effective for managing psoriasis and can clear psoriasis lesions.

How to manage your psoriasis treatment Not all psoriasis is treated the same way. In fact, finding the right treatment could take some trial and error. Each person with psoriasis is unique, and the condition can present itself in so many different ways that it's important to find treatment that fits you and your needs.

Since there is no cure for psoriasis, treatment is an ongoing process. But "no cure" doesn't mean "no hope." Psoriasis can be effectively managed, and it is possible to clear skin lesions. The main goals of psoriasis treatment are to: improve the physical symptoms of psoriasis clear skin lesions control psoriasis for the longest time possible before the next flare-up improve your quality of life Talk with your doctor or dermatologist to find a treatment that works for you.

To take control of your psoriasis treatment, you need to form a strong partnership with your doctor. After all you and your health care providers are part of the same team, and you're all working toward a common set of goals - namely clearing up your psoriasis plaques and improving your quality of life.

Impact of psoriasis on quality of life Psoriasis can have a huge impact on your quality of life in general, and how you feel in your relationships, work, and school. In fact, its impact on physical and mental function is similar to that of other chronic and serious conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and arthritis.

You can live a healthy life with your psoriasis. To make it happen, you'll need to focus in on a few key healthy living principles: eating healthy staying physically active to help you feel better and healthier finding a support network to help you deal with the impact of psoriasis You may also need to pay more attention to caring for your skin and nails.