Can Psoriasis Go Into Remission

How Can I Stop Psoriasis From Spreading

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition in which your skin may get red patches covered with silver and white scales. The skin may become inflamed and itchy.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune cells target healthy skin. It causes scaly eruptions on the skin. Stress can trigger your psoriasis condition and makes the symptoms worse.

Symptoms of psoriasis:

With psoriasis, you get red, inflamed patches. They can cause severe itching, which leads to bleeding. At times, it can burn as well. Most of the time, it comes and goes with the change of season. In one season, your skin could be completely clear, and in another season, it may relapse.

Types of psoriasis:

Plaque psoriasis: You will find thick red patches on skin with a silver or white scaly layer. Mostly, the patches are on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp.

Guttate Psoriasis: You will find separated drop-shaped spots. These eruptions are not very thick. Medications, infections, and injuries can trigger it.

Inverse Psoriasis: You will find rashes on skinfolds, mainly under the breasts or in the armpits or groin area.

Pustular Psoriasis: You will find pus around the patches. It is one of the severe types of psoriasis.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis: You will find exfoliating patches with the patient complaining of a burning sensation. As the patches may develop very fast, you should seek medical help.

Other common types of psoriasis are scalp psoriasis, nail psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis

Can Psoriasis Go Away On Its Own

Psoriasis is a chronic, lifelong inflammatory skin disease. That means it cant go away on its own. However, psoriasis can go into periods of remission in which the symptoms disappear. Remission is followed by periods known as a relapse, rebound, or flare-up in which the symptoms of psoriasis get worse again.

I had a few good days and I allowed myself to be optimistic that remission might be occurring. Then I woke up this morning and BAM! Flare city, stated one MyPsoriasisTeam member.

In the treatment of psoriasis, the main goals are to clear the skin from the characteristic itchy, scaly lesions and to increase the length of remission periods. Besides treatment, other factors may also influence your likelihood of remission.

How I Got To Psoriasis Remission

Psoriasis affects your body, mind, and spirit. Theres no cure, but healing and even remission is possible. The road to remission can be rocky with lots of stops and starts along the way. Its a journey. And like any other, theres more than one route to get there.

Heres how three women have made peace with their disease and themselves.

Nadine FerrantiTeacherDallas

In 2008, I had a flaky scalp that I thought was just dandruff. After about a year, it started to spread, and I was diagnosed with psoriasis.

At its worst, my body was completely covered. My face, ears, legs, back no place was spared. I itched horribly, and when I scratched my skin, it bled.

For 10 years, I tried all different kinds of shampoos and skin creams. While living in Singapore, I visited the National Skin Clinic and started UVB treatments, which helped a lot. The problem is, as soon as I stopped going, my psoriasis came back.

When it was time to start a family, I wanted to avoid strong medications while pregnant. I just dealt with it the way I could.

We moved to New York, and I went to see a dermatologist to find relief. Eventually, I found Dr. Saakshi Khattri at Mount Sinai Hospital, who also diagnosed me with psoriatic arthritis. I thought I had just normal aches and pain from walking around and chasing after the kids. But Dr. Khattri said that if inflammation is this bad on your skin, its probably worse on the inside.

The treatment has been life-changing.

Irene Prantalos

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Psoriasis Scales On Scalp

Will Good Dietary Nutrition Help My Psoriasis

A healthy diet is important for well-being and can reduce your risk of many long term illnesses, including coronary heart disease, inflammatory conditions and even cancer. However there is no clear link between what you eat and the severity of psoriasis symptoms.

• The British Nutrition Foundation suggests eating at least 300g oily fish per week for general health . Fish oil has been shown to benefit psoriasis
• Aim to eat more green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrain cereals which also contain important essential fatty acids.
• Cut back on saturated fats and vegetable oils and use more olive oil and rapeseed oil products
• Eat fresh home made foods rather than pre-packaged, convenience foods
• Certain foods may worsen your symptoms. If you experience any adverse effects from foods it may be worth making a note of these to discuss with your doctor and generally for your own avoidance when preparing and eating food

What Is Excimer Laser Therapy And How Does It Work To Treat Plaque Psoriasis

Another type of phototherapy treatment is delivered using an excimer laser. The excimer laser delivers a high-intensity beam of ultraviolet light. This type of phototherapy is similar to narrow-band UVB in that it specifically targets the areas of skin that are affected by psoriasis symptoms. This can help to reduce side effects because only the affected skin is exposed to the ultraviolet light1.

Excimer laser treatment is usually recommended for adults and children with mild or moderate psoriasis. It can also be effective in treating psoriasis that is difficult to reach with other types of treatment, such as symptoms on the scalp, palms, and soles of the feet. Patients generally receive treatment twice per week and generally see an effect after 4-10 treatment sessions2.

Excimer laser treatment can cause side effects including blisters, burning, and reddened skin. Because it is a relatively new type of treatment, the long-term effects of excimer laser treatment are not yet fully known 3.

You May Like: Can You Catch Psoriasis From Another Person

Does Psoriasis Ever Go Away

Psoriasis is considered a chronic condition that can come and go throughout your life. Many people turn to a trusted dermatologist, who they can visit when they are experiencing a psoriasis outbreak. Psoriasis may go into remission with proper treatment, which means a person does not experience symptoms of the condition for months or even years in some cases. In order to help keep psoriasis in remission for longer periods of time, many will turn to diet and exercise changes to help boost their immune system. Speak with your dermatologist to learn more about diet and lifestyle changes that could help keep psoriasis in remission longer.

Risk Factors For Psoriasis

There are several factors that increase your likelihood of developing psoriasis including:

• Stress
• Skin injury
• Medications such as lithium, antimalarials, beta-blockers, quinidine, indomethacin
• Viral or bacterial infections – if you have a compromised immune system from an infection such as AIDS, you are more likely to develop psoriasis
• Family history – if you have a first-degree family member with psoriasis, you are more likely to develop psoriasis
• Obesity – psoriasis is more likely to develop in skin folds in obese people
• Tobacco usage – you are two times more likely to develop psoriasis if you are a smoker
• Alcohol use – heavy alcohol use is associated with psoriasis in men
• Cold temperatures – cold temperatures can exacerbate psoriasis
• Complexion – people with fair complexions are more likely to develop psoriasis than those with darker skin color

Recommended Reading: Body Surface Area Assessment Psoriasis

How To Prevent Psoriasis From Returning

Psoriasis is a chronic, long-term condition, so flares will usually return even after remission. However, certain treatments and lifestyle changes may help people prolong their remission periods.

Experts believe that psoriasis occurs due to a combination of genetic factors and external triggers, but not everyone who inherits one or more of the specific psoriasis-causing genes goes on to develop the skin condition.

Therefore, avoiding triggers may be key to reducing the risk of psoriasis development and the return of symptoms following remission. Triggers vary from person to person, but some of the most common are:

What Will Happen If I Stop Treating My Psoriasis

One of three things happens when you stop treatment:

What happens often depends on the medication you were using when you stopped, how well you manage your psoriasis triggers, and your medical history.

You May Like: What Does The Word Psoriasis Mean

Concept Of Remission In Psoriasis

The natural course of the psoriasis can be highly variable, from mild or benign to persistent and aggressive forms. Remission of psoriasis is achieved in longterm efficacious control of skin lesions.

In an expert consensus meeting that was carried out to define goals for treatment of plaque psoriasis with systemic therapy and to improve patient care, 19 dermatologists from different European countries met face-to-face for discussion and to define items through a 4-round Delphi process.

For systemic therapy of plaque psoriasis, 2 treatment phases were defined: the induction phase: treatment period until Week 16 and the maintenance phase: for all drugs, the treatment period after the induction phase. For the definition of treatment goals in plaque psoriasis, change in PASI from baseline until time of evaluation and absolute DLQI were used. After induction and during maintenance therapy, treatment can be continued if a reduction in PASI is 75%. The treatment regimen should be modified if improvement of PASI is < 50%. In a situation where the therapeutic response improved 50% but < 75%, as assessed by PASI, therapy should be modified if the DLQI is > 5, but can be continued if the DLQI is 5.

Is Psoriasis Caused By Stress

Often, patients wonder about the link between stress and psoriasis. Does stress automatically trigger a psoriasis outbreak? And how do people with psoriasis manage stress to avoid an outbreak? Unfortunately, there is no simple, one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. While there is a link between stress levels and psoriasis flare-ups, it can be very different depending on the person, the severity of their psoriasis, and the type of psoriasis they are suffering from. Some of the things you can do to ease your mind and help keep your stress levels under control when dealing with psoriasis include the following:

• Visit a dermatologist when you notice signs of psoriasis. Your dermatologist will help you determine the exact type of psoriasis you have, medications that may help you, and triggers you should avoid. They can also help put your mind at ease about your condition, which can reduce some of the added stress you may be feeling.
• Try taking a walk or meditating to help control your everyday stress levels. Not only can these activities help your body stay in good shape, but they can also help to clear and calm your mind.
• Trust your dermatologist and be open to new treatments. Your doctor is constantly learning about the best treatment options for psoriasis and can help steer you toward a better option when your psoriasis is not getting better with other treatment options.

Recommended Reading: What Does Scalp Psoriasis Look Like

Is There A Timeline For Psoriasis Remission

Psoriasis is unpredictable, and psoriasis remission has no timeline. Sometimes, remission can be lengthy. You may not experience symptoms for months, even years. Remission can also be short-lived. You may start experiencing symptoms again within a few weeks of them disappearing.

One common psoriasis cycle involves having fewer symptoms and flares during summer months and more symptoms and flares during winter months. Thats likely because of how the two very different environments affect your skin. The weather in these two seasons can trigger psoriasis symptoms. Being aware of these triggers and others can help you reduce flare frequency and extend remission periods.

Although psoriasis may return on its own, something may prod its return. These things are called triggers. Being aware of the most common ones can help you reduce the likelihood of flares and possibly extend periods of remission.

An Itching Or Burning Feeling On The Skin

Although psoriasis patches arent usually irritating, some people do report itchiness. People who have psoriasis of the scalp can report its very itchy or dry, says Anthony Rossi, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

The itching and pain can interfere with basic daily activities including self-care, sleep, and even walking.

Also Check: Get Rid Of Guttate Psoriasis Fast

How Does This Information Affect The Management Of Psoriasis

The bottom line is that the lack of precise information on the cause of psoriasis severely hampers the search for a cure. However, the current state of information has resulted in the development of new effective treatments, all based on trying to correct the faults within the immune system. It is hoped that future more effective treatments will be developed as understanding of the complex problems within the immune system increases.

Meantime, more straightforward actions such as reducing alcohol intake, stopping smoking and trying to cope with stress can be recommended. The course of psoriasis is unpredictable. Whilst remission of symptoms can occur, it may take weeks, months or even years.

Will My Children Get Psoriasis

If both parents have psoriasis then the risk of children developing psoriasis is 15 out of 20 and if one parent has psoriasis, the risk of children developing the disease is 3 out of 20 . If a brother or sister has psoriasis then the risk of other siblings developing psoriasis is 1 out of 5 . Therefore, if you have psoriasis, your children will not necessarily develop it.

Don’t Miss: Best Cream Or Lotion For Psoriasis

What Is Uvb Phototherapy And How Does It Work To Treat Psoriasis

Ultraviolet light B is a type of light that occurs naturally in sunlight. UVB phototherapy is generally recommended for adults and children with psoriasis who have thin plaques that respond well to natural sunlight exposure1. Patients can receive UVB phototherapy in a healthcare providers office, or at home using a special device.

Narrow band UVB phototherapy contains a smaller range of ultraviolet light waves than broad band UVB phototherapy, which is stronger and more commonly used for more severe psoriasis. However, recent studies have suggested that narrow band UVB may have a faster effect on symptoms2.

Narrow band UVB is typically administered 3 times per week, and broadband up to 5 times per week. The length of each treatment session can depend upon the type of skin a person has3. For example, fair-skinned people need a shorter exposure time than darker-skinned people in order to avoid burning. Certain types of topical treatments can make phototherapy less effective, so let your healthcare provider know about any products you are using. Some products can also make your skin more sensitive to UVB, which can increase your risk of sunburn if they are used at the same time as UVB treatment.

Most of the side effects of UVB treatment are short-term, such as itching, burns, and blisters on the skin. Over the longer term, it can cause skin damage and can slightly increase the risk of certain skin cancers.

Possible Causes For Psoriasis Remission

The goal of psoriasis treatment is to reduce the symptoms and hopefully end the flare. If treatments are successful, psoriasis may go into remission.

Even without treatment, psoriasis may disappear. Spontaneous remission, or remission that occurs without treatment, is also possible. In that case, its likely your immune system turned off its attack on your body. This allows the symptoms to fade.

This doesnt mean that you wont ever have another flare. Watch for symptoms of psoriasis so that you can begin treating them if they reappear.

Don’t Miss: Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream For Psoriasis

Does Psoriasis Go Into Remission

In other cases, psoriasis can go into remission, a state in which the symptoms disappear as the individuals immune system normalizes and stops attacking its own body. When this occurs, the patient may experience no symptoms for many years. However, the potential for a recurrence of the problem is always present.

What Are The Symptoms

There are several types of psoriasis. Symptoms for each may vary. But major symptoms are itchy and tender skin and raised, bright red patches of skin , topped with loose, silvery scales. In some people, psoriasis causes joints to become swollen, tender, and painful. Symptoms may disappear, even without treatment, and then return.

Don’t Miss: How To Remove Psoriasis Black Marks

Are There Any Other Alternative Approaches

There are a variety of alternative approaches that can be undertaken alone or in combination with conventional therapies. It is essential if you are considering any alternative approaches to please discuss this with your doctor or healthcare professional as they may be detrimental to your health.

Such alternative approaches could entail Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Magnatherapy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Aromatherapy, Homeopathic Medicine, Yoga, Spa Treatments, Shiatsu, and Naturopathy. It is always advisable to fully research and find a reputable qualified practitioner who follows correct protocols for their clients. There are organisations that may be useful to contact for further details and advice. With this information you and your doctor or healthcare professional will be better placed to discuss what is best for you.

Psoriasis Doesn’t Have To Be A Life

Peter Amento avoided shorts and short sleeves for most of his life, no matter how warm the weather. When he did wear them, People would comment: What have you got? Poison ivy? Thats how bad my psoriasis would look, says the 61-year-old husband and father of three from Hamden.

Weve worked together to find the best treatment for his condition. Its a great partnership.Keith Choate, MD, PhD

The skin disorder appeared when Amento was 15, and over the years he tried everything to make it go away. I started with sunlamps, which was the way to go back then, he says. It didnt do much. He moved on to ointments, slathering them on the red patches on his arms, legs and torso, then covering the areas with plastic wrap to help the medication seep in. Theyd go away for a couple of weeks, then youd have to repeat the whole process.

Later, he would fly to Florida and sunbathe on the beach until his skin was crisp. The sunburn killed me for a couple of days, but it got rid of the psoriasis for a month, he says.

Amento assumed he would struggle with the condition for the rest of his life. Then his local dermatologist referred him to Yale Medicine, where physicians had a new approach.

Recommended Reading: Psoriasis On Hands And Feet