Psoriasis Left Unchecked: Consequences, Complications, and Further Info
Psoriasis, a common skin condition characterised by thick, scaly patches, can have serious long-term health consequences if left untreated. If psoriasis is not managed, it can lead to chronic inflammation of the skin, causing the lesions to persist and worsen over time.
More severely, untreated psoriasis increases the risk of systemic complications. These can include psoriatic arthritis (joint inflammation), cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, and depression due to ongoing systemic inflammation. In extreme cases, certain forms of psoriasis, such as generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) and erythrodermic psoriasis, can lead to life-threatening complications, potentially causing organ failure and sepsis.
Untreated psoriasis can significantly lower a person's quality of life due to persistent symptoms and comorbidities. People with severe types of psoriasis, like GPP, have about four times the risk of death from any cause compared to the general population.
Early diagnosis and medical intervention are crucial to preventing these serious long-term health consequences. Treating psoriasis can help manage symptoms, avoid more severe flare-ups, and prevent the condition from worsening. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends long-term and ongoing treatment strategies to help prevent and manage flare-ups and prevent psoriasis from worsening.
The AAD also recommends screening for other related diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis, and making lifestyle adjustments, such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a moderate weight, and exercising regularly. Treatment options for psoriasis include topical treatments, systemic treatments, biologics, and phototherapy. The first-line treatment for psoriasis is typically topical.
Psoriasis is often a lifelong condition, but it can go into remission, meaning a person will have clear skin and no symptoms, for periods of time. However, remissions can last for years, with most remissions lasting between 1 and 12 months. The AAD states that psoriasis can come and go, with periods of time when psoriasis calms down and the skin is nearly clear, followed by unexpected flare-ups.
In addition to affecting the skin, psoriasis-related inflammation can progress, leading to additional complications that affect other parts of the body. People with psoriasis have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to the immune cells that cause inflammation in psoriasis travelling in the blood. They also have an increased risk of developing other long-term conditions known as comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression, and inflammatory bowel disease.
The risk of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease is significantly higher in people with psoriasis compared to those without the condition. The AAD recommends avoiding skin injuries, cuts, and bug bites as much as possible, treating psoriasis to reduce or stop itching, refraining from scratching the affected skin, using fragrance-free moisturizers, and limiting showers and baths to reduce the severity of psoriasis symptoms.
Phototherapy, which involves exposing psoriatic skin to ultraviolet B, can slow rapid skin cell growth, suppress the overactive immune system, reduce inflammation, and reduce itchiness. The AAD also recommends eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet as a way to manage psoriasis symptoms.
In conclusion, the long-term effects of untreated psoriasis encompass persistent, worsening skin lesions, development or progression of psoriatic arthritis causing joint damage, increased risk of cardiovascular events, higher incidence of metabolic disorders, serious systemic complications in severe psoriasis subtypes, mental health impact including depression and decreased quality of life, and elevated risk of early mortality in severe cases. It is essential to seek medical advice and treatment to manage and prevent the serious health consequences associated with psoriasis.
- Treatmentseekers with psoriasis, an entity characterized by thick, scaly patches, could potentially alleviate persistent symptoms and comorbidities, as treating psoriasis can help manage symptoms, avoid more severe flare-ups, and prevent the condition from worsening.
- Psoriatic arthritis, a systemic complication of psoriasis, increases the risk of joint damage, and this underlines the importance of early diagnosis and medical intervention.
- The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) highlights psoriatic arthritis as a related disease that should be screened for in those with psoriasis.
- Beyond affecting the skin, psoriasis-related inflammation can progress, leading to additional complications like an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to immune cells that cause inflammation in psoriasis traveling in the blood.
- To manage psoriasis symptoms, the AAD advises adopting a well-balanced, nutritious diet and limiting showers and baths, in addition to exploring various therapies-and-treatments such as topical treatments, systemic treatments, biologics, and phototherapy.
- In extreme cases, certain forms of psoriasis, such as generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) and erythrodermic psoriasis, can lead to life-threatening complications, potentially causing organ failure and sepsis, thus underscoring the urgent need for timely treatment and health-and-wellness management to mitigate these detrimental health-and-wellness outcomes.
