How to Handle Emotional Fatigue From Psoriasis

Learn more about what causes emotional distress in psoriasis and how to cope.

Emotional fatigue from psoriasis may be more likely in people who’ve been managing the condition for a long time, says Dr. Bodemer. “Some people will develop psoriasis in their childhood or teenage years,” she says.

Here’s why you may be experiencing emotional fatigue if you are living with psoriasis.

1. Psoriasis Is a Lifelong Condition

While there are ways to manage psoriasis, there is currently no cure. “That’s a really heavy load to carry emotionally when you get diagnosed with something and you’re told you’re going to have this for the rest of your life,” says Bodemer.

2. Flares Can Crop Up Unexpectedly

“We can help dampen psoriasis flares and take away some of the symptoms, but there’s always a chance that it could come back even if you do get completely clear,” says Bodemer. That unpredictability can lead to emotional fatigue, she says.

3. It’s Often a Visible Condition

Psoriasis can cause patches of skin to become inflamed, red, or flaky. In darker skin, these patches can appear brown or purplish, with scales that can look silvery or ashy.

4. You Have to Explain or Answer Questions Constantly

For people with psoriasis, even mundane activities, like trips to the grocery store, can be stressful. People may stare, move away from you, or ask rude questions about your skin. “They might be afraid or think it’s contagious, or they might just be genuinely curious,” says Bodemer. “But when you’re dealing with a lifetime of focus on [a skin condition], it can be emotionally exhausting, invasive, and traumatic.”

The myth about psoriasis being contagious is something that you may also encounter in the workplace, or even among your family and friends, which can also contribute to a sense of emotional fatigue, notes Mohammad Jafferany, MD, a professor of psychodermatology, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences at Central Michigan University College of Medicine in Saginaw and the president of the Association for Psychocutaneous Medicine of North America.

5. It Can Impact Your Romantic Relationships

Even if you are already in a relationship, you may feel uncomfortable showing your skin or engaging in intimacy. And if you don’t have the support of your romantic partner — if they don’t want to go with you to social events when you have visible skin symptoms, for instance — that can have a devastating effect on emotional well-being, says Dr. Jafferany. “The attitude of family members counts a lot,” he says. “If it is negative, then it has negative consequences such as feelings of shame, guilt, depression, anxiety, and being socially isolated.”

If emotional fatigue from psoriasis is an issue for you, here are some strategies that may help.

1. Try to Reduce Stress

2. Find a Psychologist Who Specializes in Treating Chronic Illnesses

“The dual treatment of mental health and skin health combined helps … [both] your physical and mental health,” he says. “We always advise patients to go see a psychologist or therapist or counselor.”

3. Consider Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) involves meditation, tuning in to each area of your body from head to toe, and engaging in breathing exercises.

“This is a really powerful tool that can help people navigate stresses in their life, whatever they might be,” says Bodemer. She notes that breath work is easy to do and may be especially useful for people who don’t want to meditate or who are experiencing a flare and aren’t comfortable enough in their body to do a “body scan.”

“These are tools people can use in the moment when they’re in a social situation and somebody asks the question, ‘What’s that on your arm?’ You can take a few deep, conscious, measured breaths, so that you can come into the interaction in a more calm state,” she says.

4. Make Sure You’re Using Effective Treatment

With advances in treatments such as biologic medications, people who have psoriasis can be symptom-free the majority of the time, says Jafferany. If you are experiencing skin lesions in spite of treatment, speak to your dermatologist about changing your medications.

5. Lean on Your Loved Ones for Support

Support from family and friends is an important part of managing the emotional impact of psoriasis. Having loved ones reassure you that the disease isn’t contagious, that they will stand by you and help you find the right treatment, and offer similar types of encouragement can give you strength to cope, says Jafferany. “Those kinds of comments and support are very important for the patient’s well-being,” he says.

The National Psoriasis Foundation offers tips and resources for friends and family who are supporting a loved one living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

6. Find a Psoriasis Support Group

“Connecting with other people who have this condition and are dealing with some of the same things, just having that community can be really powerful,” says Bodemer. Check out the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) for in-person and online support options.

• Psoriasis can lead to emotional fatigue, stress, and depression.
• Causes of emotional distress in people with psoriasis may include self–consciousness, difficulty forming romantic relationships, and the unpredictable nature of the condition.
• Relaxation techniques and support from loved ones and in-person and online support groups can help you feel less distressed.