Relating to Someone with Psoriasis

The more you know, the better you can both feel

Sometimes, people feel that the easiest way to cope with something difficult is to ignore it, or act like it's not a big deal. But often, that isn't the best solution. When someone you know has psoriasis—especially if it's a close friend, coworker, spouse, or partner—the way you act can have a great impact on how he or she feels.

You'll find that the more you know about psoriasis, the easier it will be to offer support. And that can make both of you feel more comfortable. When you're with someone you care about, you don't want to let psoriasis come between you. So we'll help you by providing information and tools that can help you understand and help bridge the gap.

• Psoriasis is a common skin disease, affecting approximately 4.5 to 7 million people in the U.S. and approximately 100 million worldwide. That's about 2% to 3% of the world's population.
• Psoriasis is not contagious.
• One out of five people with psoriasis in the U.S. reports that the disease interferes with their ability to perform everyday tasks, including work and child care.
• People with psoriasis may suffer from discomfort, including pain and itching, restricted motion in their joints, and emotional distress.
• This skin disease can be incredibly frustrating, discomforting, and embarrassing.
• Psoriasis takes a variety of forms that vary in intensity, duration, location, and type of skin symptoms.
• Nearly 25% of people with psoriasis also have joint inflammation that produces painful arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.

For even more information, check out our Psoriasis Explained section.

Help me relate

Remember, the more you learn about psoriasis, the more comfortable and supportive you can be. Try to keep the following tips in mind when dealing with the person you care about:

• Help the person you care about stay active. Encourage him or her to get out of the house and be with others. Social connection and activity can help with stress and depressed feelings that often come with psoriasis.
• Don't assume you know what another person wants or thinks. Always ask.
• Join or develop a support group to hear other people's stories about being close to someone with psoriasis.
• Listen to the person you care about but don't push him or her to talk about it.
• Don't pass judgment about what lifestyle and medications are best for another person.
• Let the person you care about work out his or her feelings and decide how to live with psoriasis.

You may also want to read expert advice for people with psoriasis who are depressed, and about how relaxation and vacations can help relieve stress for people with psoriasis.

Additional tips for coworkers

• You may notice someone's psoriasis, but they may not want to talk about it. And that's okay. Just be supportive if they decide to open up.
• If the psoriasis is quite noticeable, try not to stare or act like it's a big deal. Feeling more self-conscious about whispers and stares can lead to extra stress for a person with psoriasis. And stress can trigger flare-ups.

You may also want to read about workplace guidance for people with psoriasis.

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