Living Well - Psoriasis

Diane T., 52, immediately eases you into conversation with her friendly tone and warm laugh. She even keeps her humble demeanor when she explains that severe plaque psoriasis covers 80% of her body. In addition, she also has psoriatic arthritis.

Feelings of stress and anxiety can strike at any time. They often creep up when you start to feel a loss of control—maybe over how your skin looks or how much work is on your plate.

You can see what psoriasis is doing to your skin, but do you realize what it may be doing to your heart? The fact is, people with severe psoriasis have a significant risk of cardiovascular disease. Understanding this risk and making important lifestyle changes can help you keep your heart healthy. And the best place to start is in the kitchen!

When you have psoriasis, coping with other people’s reactions about your disease can be even more challenging than dealing with your own feelings. That’s why if your loved one has psoriasis, it’s important to know which words are best left unsaid. This way, you won’t unintentionally say something negative that hurts the person. Don’t know what’s off-limits? Follow the tips below:

Recent studies have found that patients who went to their dermatologist appointments knowing what they wanted to ask were more satisfied with their care. Your list of questions might include the following:

Most people don't give a second thought to walking up a staircase. But for Kristen D, 43, it was such a cause for celebration that she called over her husband, Tom, to watch.

Medical treatment can go a long way toward helping you control your psoriasis. But making certain lifestyle changes also can help ease skin discomfort and minimize lifestyle flare-ups.

Putting together a successful psoriasis treatment plan with your doctor will depend on many factors.

When you have psoriasis, taking care of your skin is very important to help avoid flare-ups. Here are some tips for keeping skin healthy: