![Is Psoriasis Linked to Anxiety](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/anxiety-disorder.jpg)
Like other chronic conditions,psoriasiscan take a toll on your emotional health.Anxietycan trigger or worsenpsoriasis, andpsoriasiscan causeanxiety, creating a cyclical relationship.
Psoriasisis an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the skin, which can cause many to develop feelings of embarrassment or self-consciousness.
How can psoriasis cause anxiety?
- Skin lesions:Psoriatic skin lesions can cause significant shame that can affect your social, professional, and personal life. Many people find that the disease makes it difficult to socialize and work with others due tostressabout their appearance.
- Medication side effects:Many affected patients report frustration with the look, feel, and smell of the topical medications for psoriasis, which can draw unwanted attention from others. Side effects such as skin thinning and bleeding can also cause significant emotionalstress
- Need for frequent checkups:牛皮癣治疗需要长期随访。Blood tests may be needed at regular intervals to check for comorbidities or inflammatory markers. All of this can cause considerableanxiety.
- Stress of avoiding triggers:Psoriasis has numerous triggers, including certain foods, weather conditions, and skin injuries. Constant fear or worry about these triggers can cause people to avoid certain situations and causeanxiety.
- Risk of complications:Psoriasis can lead to various complications, including skin infections,hair loss(scalp psoriasis),arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Some people with the condition developpsoriatic arthritis, which can be quite painful and negatively affect quality of life. These related diseases can lead to stress,depression, and anxiety.
- Inflammation:Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the immune system attacks and damages healthy tissues in the body. This results in a heightened inflammatory response and the release of inflammatory mediators or cytokines in the body, which can affect the brain and lead to anxiety,depression, andsleepdisturbances.
How to manage anxiety with psoriasis
Anxiety can trigger or worsen psoriasis, and psoriasis can trigger or worsen anxiety. Although it can be overwhelming, you can take steps to manage both conditions with proper treatment and lifestyle measures.
- Take psoriasis medications as prescribed.Psoriasis medications keep skin lesions in check and can help manage inflammation inside your body. By keeping your skin symptoms under control, you can help keep anxiety at bay.
- Try to reduce stress.Practice relaxation techniques, such asbreathingexercises,yoga, meditation, and listening to music.
- Stay in touch with your doctor.Frequent psoriasis flares can leave you feeling frustrated. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and ask whether more effective therapies can be recommended.
- Seek the help of a qualifiedmental healthexpert.Consult a psychiatrist or a counselor to talk about your feelings and find strategies to cope with your condition.
- Educate yourself about the disease.Learn about the risks, triggers, and treatment options. Join support groups for psoriasis. Psoriasis is notcontagious, and learning more about the disease can help reduce the stigma around the disease and help make you feel more in control.
- Get enoughsleep.Adequate sleep and rest are essential to managing psoriasis and anxiety.
- Eat healthy and stay active.Eating a nutritiousdiet. Avoidalcoholandsmoking.Exerciseregularly. Leading a healthy lifestyle can help you reducepsoriasis symptomsand reduce your anxiety.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/psoriasis/s1.jpg)
QUESTION
Psoriasis causes the top layer of skin cells to become inflamed and grow too quickly and flake off.See AnswerHealth SolutionsFrom Our Sponsors
Medically Reviewed on6/20/2022
References
Image Source: iStock image
Marek-Józefowicz L, Jaracz M, Placek W, Czajkowski R, Borkowska A. Cognitive impairment in patients with severe psoriasis. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2017;34(2):120-125. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5420603/
Healthtalk. Psoriasis (young people). https://healthtalk.org/psoriasis/emotions-mental-health-and-having-psoriasis-overview
国家银屑病基础。When Psoriasis Impacts the Mind. https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/when-psoriasis-impacts-the-mind/
Marek-Józefowicz L, Jaracz M, Placek W, Czajkowski R, Borkowska A. Cognitive impairment in patients with severe psoriasis. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2017;34(2):120-125. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5420603/
Healthtalk. Psoriasis (young people). https://healthtalk.org/psoriasis/emotions-mental-health-and-having-psoriasis-overview
国家银屑病基础。When Psoriasis Impacts the Mind. https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/when-psoriasis-impacts-the-mind/
Complete List
Top Is Psoriasis Linked to Anxiety Related Articles
Can Psoriasis Go Away?
Psoriasis is a skin disease that develops due to changes in genetic makeup, and most often, it is passed from your parents (hereditary). It may also occur due to changes in the immune system, autoimmune response, in which your own antibodies start attacking the cells of your body. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that has no definite cure and only the symptoms can be managed.How Do You Stop Psoriasis From Stress?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that can be passed down (hereditary) to you from your parents or grandparents. Stress is a common factor that can trigger your psoriasis. Psoriasis has a stronger association with psychiatric disorders than other skin diseases. Stress worsens psoriasis by triggering a complex network of signals between the endocrine (hormones), nervous and immune systems.How Do You Treat Mild to Moderate Psoriasis?
Mild to moderate psoriasis is typically treated with medications and therapies that aim to reduce inflammation and slow the rapid skin cell growth associated with the condition.How to Get Rid of Psoriasis Quickly
Although psoriasis is incurable, it responds to topical and systemic treatments. Topical treatments that may be effective to treat mild psoriasis include creams, lotions, and sprays.Is Psoriasis Contagious?
Psoriasis is an incurable skin disease that causes reddish patches of skin topped with a thick layer of dry silvery scales. Psoriasis cannot spread and is not contagious.Psoriasis Picture 1
A reddish, scaly rash often located over the surfaces of the elbows, knees, scalp, and around or in the ears, navel, genitals or buttocks. See a picture of Psoriasis and learn more about the health topic.Psoriasis: 8 Surprising Health Benefits of Pet Ownership for Psoriasis
Owning a pet can have health benefits for people with psoriasis. Find out how pets can reduce high blood pressure, decrease your risk of stroke, and more.Psoriasis Home Remedies
Discover home remedies for psoriasis and help heal irritated skin.Psoriasis Quiz
Take the mystery out of psoriasis. Take the Psoriasis Quiz and see what you know about the types, symptoms, treatments and more.Psoriasis Slideshow
What is psoriasis? See examples of psoriasis including the different types of nail, plaque, and scalp psoriasis. Learn about psoriasis symptoms, causes and treatment.Plaque Psoriasis: Top 10 Causes, Triggers and Treatments
Plaque psoriasis triggers a red, scaly rash of plaques on the skin typically affecting the elbows, knees, and scalp. Treatment involves managing triggers and controlling symptoms by addressing causes such as stress, allergies, infections, hormones, and more.What Are the Levels of Psoriasis? Types
Learn the three levels of psoriasis, as well as the five different types, which each include their own symptoms, causes, and triggers.What Is the Main Cause of Psoriasis?
牛皮癣是一种传染性皮肤疾病范围h the skin cells grow in numbers faster than normal, producing rashes on the body. Normally, the cells on the surface of the skin are shed as new cells grow beneath. In psoriasis, the swift build-up of skin cells collects on the surface of the skin as scales or plaques. The exact cause of psoriasis is not completely understood. It appears to involve an interplay between a person’s genes, immune system and environment.