What is the biggest impact of psoriasis on your life?

the impact of psoriasis on anyone,s life is very  considerable not only do they have to cope with knowing what they have and that it is for life   and trying to find a treatment that works and numerous visits to the hospital dermatology department they also have to deal with the side effects of most of the drugs the sickness and nausia . it also impacts on their mental well being causing clinical  depression and them to become introverted  and  suffer with agraphobia  and in some cases want to commit suicide . it ruins relationships due to the intensity of the treatment and the lack of understanding  and can sometimes impact on the jobs the sufferer can do and obtain especially if they have it in a visible place like hands or face. even those who have had it for a number of years will admit that when it flares up it cracks and bleeds and gets very sore and itchy  not to mention the constant white flakes of skin that falls off at the slightest touch most mornings its the clean up hovering the bed and carpets everywhere .and then if you get the psoratic arthritis it is the pain and the  swelling of the joints and limited mobility and the feelings of being useless.but what is worse is trying to explain all the time to others what it is and how it affects you and re assuring them that no they cannot catch it that it is just a part of you .

Thank you for sharing what you feel @magicmick‍ !

Do other members have similar thoughts on the subject?

I was diagnosed ( with a biopsy ) 20 years ago. & told I had 2 types of psoriasis .At the same time I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. I was also suffering from severe stress as my younger sister was terminally ill . It has never been suggested as such but I have always felt that these  things were linked ! I have tried every cream available steroids, emolients ,aruvedic treatment, I follow a very healthy diet  and nothing helps !! 5 years ago my dermatologist  decided to discharge me as I wasnt responding to treatment & suggested that as medication wasnt working that it wasnt psoriasis after all but solar keratosis . ( sun damage ) I have never  liked the sun and always cover up or stay in the shade & use a high factor sunscreen .even as a child !!! I am now nearly 70 ! I use a tinted moisturiser on my face in summer which gives a healthy tanned appearance .I am now left not knowing the correct diagnosis .I have painful itchy flareups on my arms & legs which can just as suddenly calm right down .I find stress is a massive trigger !!! This has had  a massive impact on my life I have always tried to avoid social occasions dont possess a dress  or skirt ,I live in trousers so I dread summer months when its hot .I love fashion and absolutely hate dressy occasions  usually making excuses not to go ,I feel unclean & embarrased & always feel that I have to explain that its not something catching.I honestly feel that the condition isnt given enough consideration & is kind of dismissed as incurable by my GP .

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I find when i am stressed and my serotonin levrls are low, i get a big flare up, ive had psorisis for 21 yrs and nothing has made it go completely, i eat healthy, but do find alcohol makes things worse. I found when i was pregnant my skin was very clear, but other than that it comes back. I do think it is to do with stress and getting a run downed immune system. Im interested in the injections, not sure if it will work though. 

hi lisj123 forgive me i have just been reading your comments on here about a run down immune system causing psoriasis to flare up  and it struck me as a little ironic that if what causes psoriasis is a run down immune system then why do they then  treat it with drugs that further reduces the body,s immune system leaving it open to even more  infections  surely the opposite would be whats needed a boost to the immune system .

i do know for a fact that psoriasis is caused not by a deficient immune system it is caused by an over active one one that has been knocked out of kilter by other illness and starts working faster to repair the body.it makes the skin grow at a rapid rate which gives the red lumps and  white plaques and dead skin cells. As it was put to me by my dermatologist he said my body reacted by attacking the biggest organ the skin it has now been found that it can attack other organs like the kidneys and the heart the liver the joints. Many psoriasis sufferers will tell you that their psoriasis is not the only complaint that they have but a lot do not realise that the other complaints they have could be caused because of their psoriasis or the long term use of the drugs used to try and control it because they lower the immune system .

@Margarita_k I totally agree with every word. I have the arthritis too life is a constaMr struggle