Can You Get Psoriasis In Your Genital Area

The Horror Of Penile Psoriasis

The horror of penile psoriasis is hard to describe to those that dont have it. Imagine your sexy, noodly appendage looking like its just been pulled through a paper shredder. Even if youre into S& M and like your sausage being butchered, its not a fun look, let me tell you!

Now imagine slicing this with a butchers knife.

Thankfully so far, knock on wood I havent had problems with P on the peepee.

Penile psoriasis, like psoriasis in general, can appear anywhere on your love vegetable from the base of the shaft all the way to the top of the glans. Even if youre circumcised or uncircumcised, it can get you. However, unlike the common plaque psoriasis, the skin looks smooth NOT rough and dry.

How Does Psoriasis Affect The Face

Around half of people with psoriasis will eventually experience symptoms on the face3. Most people with facial psoriasis symptoms also have symptoms on their scalps, which can spread onto the face. Symptoms on the face can be especially difficult to deal with because they are so visible to others, and not easy to hide. Treatment can also be tricky because the facial skin is so sensitive that many treatments are too harsh and cause irritation. However, there is a range of treatment strategies that people can try out in order to find the best way to relieve their symptoms.

Read more information on symptoms and treatments for psoriasis on the face.

Vulvar Skin Conditions And Their Treatment

Several vulvar skin conditions are familiar from other areas of the body but may be difficult to recognize when they appear on the vulva. These include the following:

Eczema. This inflammatory skin condition disrupts the skin’s surface, causing red patches and thin cracks, weeping, and crust formation. On the vulva, crusts are less likely, but eczema may initiate a cycle of vulvar itching and scratching that leads to lichen simplex chronicus thickened and intensely itchy skin. If eczema affects an area of the vulva called the vestibule, it may cause stinging and burning. Sometimes eczema appears in early childhood and its cause is unknown. More often, it begins with exposure to an irritant or allergen .

To diagnose vulvar eczema, the clinician will ask about your symptoms your history of eczema, allergy, and related conditions your vulvar cleansing habits and any products the vulva has been exposed to. During the exam, she or he will look for redness, scaling, cracking, and thickening.

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Can I Have Sex With Genital Psoriasis

Yes! There is no reason why you cant have sex unless you are in pain. It can look much worse than it feels. It would be advisable to make sure the area is free from any ointments or creams before having sex, as you dont want those inside your vagina at all and medicine doesnt tend to taste very sexy.

Treating Psoriasis Naturopathically Over The Long

Orthodox medicine treats your symptoms, but does zero for the actual cause, simply because nobody knows from where psoriasis hails. This is where alternative medical practices can really come into their own because they can tap into the other areas of your body and mind that may need work.

This includes managing stress, handling your emotions, getting all the nutrients you require from your food, and keeping a healthy digestive system. It might seem like basic stuff, but youd be surprised how far we have deviated from a healthy way of living.

Because everyone is different, your psoriasis is going to be different to everyone elses, despite it looking the same. This means that your treatment is going to be specific to you, and how you manage your life what you eat, drink, smoke and breathe counts.

Keep clear that psoriasis is not going to disappear overnight, so dont expect miracles. Chronic conditions take time to heal: it is estimated that it takes one month per year you have had the condition for it to heal, with treatment. Stick at it.

Because of the known link of psoriasis with stress, we need to really take a good look at your emotional life. What was going on before and around the time you started to develop symptoms? Do you have a stress management plan in your life?

The more robust your body and soul is, the better your chances of reducing or eliminating attacks.

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What Are The Most Affected Areas

The most affected areas of genital psoriasis include:

• Pubis: affects the area above the genitalia where there is hair, and symptoms are similar to scalp psoriasis
• Thighs: patches usually appear in the groin area, near the genitalia
• Vulva: these patches are usually red and smooth and are only on the external part of the vagina
• Penis: psoriasis usually occurs on the glans , but it can also affect the body of the penis
• Buttocks and anus: the patches appear near the anus, causing intense itchiness
• Armpits: symptoms get worse with tight-fitting clothes and sweat
• Breasts: the patches usually appear in the bottom part of the breasts.

In men, genital psoriasis does not cause sexual dysfunction, however, the condition may cause anxiety which will hinder intercourse. Also, some of the medications used for treatment can have side effects which hinder erection.

What Is Inverse Psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis, sometimes called hidden psoriasis or intertriginous psoriasis, is a form of psoriasis that affects skin folds. These are areas of your body where skin rubs against skin.

Inverse psoriasis can occur under your arms, under a womans breasts, or in the groin or inner thigh area.

People who have inverse psoriasis often have another form as well, like plaque psoriasis, on other parts of their body. While raised lesions of dry, scaly skin a key sign of plaque psoriasis often cover large sections of your body, inverse psoriasis tends to appear in smaller patches.

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How To Protect Yourself

To keep genital skin healthy, try to avoid friction as much as you can because it can trigger flares. Hereâs how:

Wear loose-fitting clothes and underwear. Try boxers instead of briefs and boy shorts instead of thongs. Look for cotton or other natural fabrics that wonât stick to your skin.

Use soft, high-quality toilet paper, and wipe gently. If itâs hard to go, a fiber supplement can help.

Use lubricants and a lubricated condom during sex. These can make sex more comfortable for both men and women. Some treatments for genital psoriasis can make latex condoms less effective, so choose nonlatex ones instead. You can find them in most supermarkets and pharmacies. Also, keep in mind that genital psoriasis isnât an STD, and you canât catch it from having sex.

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Treatment For Penile Psoriasis

Penile psoriasis occurs in the most sensitive areas of your penis. These areas are also highly responsive to treatment, but it has to be done gently to get symptoms to clear up completely. Early treatment is vital for this condition since it can reduce the severity of the symptoms. The doctor or a dermatologist may prescribe oils and moisturizers to help in controlling and relieving symptoms of this condition.

The following are common treatments administered for this condition

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What Can I Do For Psoriasis On My Butt

Psoriasis that appears on the anus and the crease of the buttocks can sometimes be difficult to treat. But there are plenty of treatment options, including topical and systemic medicines .

Topicals can help to moisturize skin, relieve itch and pain, reduce skin inflammation, and slow down skin cell growth. Systemic treatments work on the entire body and act on the immune system to slow down the processes that cause excessive skin growth.

How Can Psoriasis In A Sensitive Area Be Treated

As with all types of psoriasis, it is important to regularly moisturise psoriasis in sensitive areas. This can help to make the skin more comfortable, and is also thought to help some topical treatments to be more effective.

Skin in the flexural areas is thinner, and is often covered by clothing such as in the armpit. Treatment is absorbed moreeasily in these areas and therefore does not necessarily need to be as strong as is needed in other areas to be effective. Mild to moderate potency steroid creams are often used for sensitive areas. However, care should be taken with their use in flexures as the warm environment can increase the strength and may lead to side effects such as skin thinning. Topical steroids should not be used for long periods of time or without regular reviews by your doctor. Steroid treatment should never be stopped abruptly as this may trigger a rebound of yourpsoriasis, and so should be weaned off, by gradually reducing the number of doses.

Topical VitaminD creams and ointments can beused alone or in combination with a steroid. Used alone, they have few potential side effects and so can be used for longer Some vitamin Dtopicals are suitable for use in sensitive areas, but some are not soit is important to clarify this with a GP or Pharmacist.

Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial treatments may also be prescribed, as infections are more common in sensitive areas. If present, these will need tobe treated alongside the psoriasis.

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How Is Psoriasis Treated

Psoriasis is usually treated by a dermatologist . A rheumatologist may also help with treatment. Treatments can include:

• ultraviolet light from the sun or from home or office treatments. But in some people, sunlight can make psoriasis worse.
• creams, lotions, ointments, and shampoos such as moisturizers, corticosteroids, vitamin D creams, and shampoos made with salicylic acid or coal tar
• medicines taken by mouth or injected medicines

A doctor might try one therapy for a while and then switch to another. Or a doctor may combine different therapies. Its all about finding one that works for each person.

Sometimes what works for a while might stop working. This is one reason why its important to work closely with a doctor. Trying out new treatments can get a little frustrating, but most people eventually find one that works.

The Problem With Self

When vaginal or vulvar itching occurs, women usually assume it’s a yeast infection and treat it with an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Often this does the trick, but not always. Instead, the cause of the symptoms might be dry skin, a sexually transmitted disease or bacterial infection, a less common strain of yeast that required special medication, or irritation by and allergic reactions to common products such as soaps, creams, and lotions.

If yeast isn’t the problem, an antifungal cream isn’t the solution. And if your skin is already irritated, you may exacerbate the problem by introducing preservatives and other ingredients contained in many antifungal remedies. That’s why it’s important to see your gynecologist or dermatologist if a problem persists after you’ve tried a standard antifungal cream.

Another common response of women faced with a vaginal discharge or itch is to wash the vulvar skin vigorously, on the assumption that this will disinfect the area or remove irritants. But aggressive cleansing can add to the irritation. Until the problem is diagnosed, it’s best to follow a gentle skin care routine . In fact, gentle cleansing applies whether you have a vulvar skin condition or not: Wash the area gently with your fingertips or a soft cloth and pat dry with a soft towel. Don’t use a rough washcloth, and don’t rub.

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Effect Of Genital Psoriasis On Sexual Activity

A higher percentage of men reported being currently sexually active than women . GenPs affected many aspects of sexual health. Nearly all patients reported at least one negative impact on sexual activity. These included impaired sexual experience during sexual activity , worsening of symptoms after sexual activity , decreased sexual frequency , avoidance of sexual relationships , and reduced sexual desire . In the week prior to the interview, half of patients reported that GenPs affected their sex life satisfaction quite a bit or very much , 30% responded not at all, 10% reported somewhat, 5% reported a little bit, and 1 patient had not had GenPs symptoms in the past week. Nearly half of patients reported sexual inactivity , but they were not asked if the current inactivity was related to GenPs or another reason.

Symptoms Of Vulvar Psoriasis

There are many different types of psoriasis, each with its own distinct characteristics. Inverse psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis in the genital region Typically, it presents as bright red shiny patches of skin and is found on the upper thighs, in the creases between the thigh and groin, around the anus, in the pubic area and even on the genitals. Inverse psoriasis can also develop in skin folds of the armpits, under the breasts and on the buttocks.

The scaling seen with many types of psoriasis is not usually present in inverse psoriasis since constant friction between the two skin parts rubs away the scales. However, genital psoriasis does cause itching, dryness and skin thickening. Scratching can cause the itch to intensify and may even lead to skin breaks and infection.

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How Does Psoriasis Affect The Scalp

The scalp is one of the most common places affected by plaque psoriasis. About half of people with psoriasis have symptoms on their scalps1. The back of the head is a particularly common place for symptoms, but they can occur anywhere on the scalp, around the hairline, around the ears, or on the back of the neck. Most people with scalp psoriasis have a mild form of the condition that often responds well to treatment.

Read more information on symptoms and treatments for scalp psoriasis.

Vaginal Psoriasis And Pregnancy

Dont worryvaginal psoriasis doesnt cause issues with pregnancy, delivery, or the health of your baby. Women can also usually continue UV therapy and topical treatment for genital psoriasis safely. Although psoriasis has a genetic component, you cant infect your baby by giving birth. Always get your doctors advice about medication if you think you may be pregnant or plan to start a family.

While a diagnosis of vaginal psoriasis obviously isnt the best news, its also not the worst. Remember, effective treatments are available. The exact cause of psoriasis is also not yet known. Keep in mind you did nothing to get vaginal psoriasis, and there are many ways to feel better about it with the help of your doctor and the support of those closest to you.

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How Does Vaginal Psoriasis Affect Your Sex Life

Vaginal psoriasis can make your sex life a little more complicated. However, it is essential for people to understand that it does not inhibit your sexual function. Make sure to share with your partner about your condition and to assure them that it is not contagious.

Below are some useful psoriasis sex tips

• Maintain high cleanliness levels, especially in your genital area
• Clean your genital area after engaging in any sexual activity
• Use condoms that are adequately lubricated
• Do not try to speed up the healing process by applying more medication against as directed

It could be helpful if a patient and their partner came to a doctors visit together.

How Does Psoriasis Affect The Elbows And Knees

The elbows and knees are also very common sites for plaque psoriasis symptoms. Half of people with the condition report having symptoms on their elbows, and around one-third of people have symptoms on their knees2. Plaques in these locations can tend to lead to painfulcracks or fissures because the joints move so much during normal activities, which ruptures the plaques. There is a wide range of treatment options available for people with psoriasis symptoms on the elbows and knees.

Read more information on symptoms and treatments for psoriasis on elbows and knees.

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What Type Of Psoriasis Treatment Will I Need

Several treatment options can relieve psoriasis. Creams or ointments may be enough to improve the rash in small areas of skin. If the rash affects larger areas, or you also have joint pain, you may need other treatments. Joint pain may be a sign that you have arthritis.

Your provider will decide on a treatment plan based on:

• Severity of the rash.

• Vitamin A or retinoid creams.

What Causes Genital Psoriasis

Genital or anogenital psoriasis may be part of more generalised psoriasis. Psoriasis has multifactorialgenetic and environmental causes. These are not fully understood. In the anogenital area, specific factors to consider include:

• Colonisation by bacteria and yeasts
• Injury to the skin, causing new plaques of psoriasis to develop

Psoriasis in the genital area may also be worsened by contact with irritants such as:

• Urine
• Friction associated with sexual intercourse.

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What If Those Psoriasis Treatments Dont Work

If psoriasis doesnt improve, your healthcare provider may recommend these treatments:

• Light therapy: UV light at specific wavelengths can decrease skin inflammation and help slow skin cell production.
• PUVA: This treatment combines a medication called psoralen with exposure to a special form of UV light.
• Methotrexate: Providers sometimes recommend this medication for severe cases. It may cause liver disease. If you take it, your provider will monitor you with blood tests. You may need periodic liver biopsies to check your liver health.
• Retinoids: These vitamin A-related drugs can cause side effects, including birth defects.
• Cyclosporine: This medicine can help severe psoriasis. But it may cause high blood pressure and kidney damage.
• Immune therapies: Newer immune therapy medications work by blocking the bodys immune system so it cant jumpstart an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis.