Whether you work at an office or in your living room, it can be hard to manage psoriasis on the job. Use these tips to navigate tricky conversations with coworkers, flare-ups before a video call, and more.
Discover effective strategies for managing psoriasis at work.
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Anyone living with psoriasis is likely familiar with physical symptoms like skin color changes, soreness, or bleeding from cracked skin, all of which can make working difficult.
People with psoriasis who live in the United States lose more than 15 percent of their working hours per year to the condition. They’re also more likely to miss work and go on short-term disability than those who don’t have it.
If you’re struggling with psoriasis at work, having strategies to help fight flares can reduce psoriasis symptoms and the physical and emotional discomfort that flares cause. It’s also important to speak to a board-certified dermatologist if psoriasis symptoms are interfering with your daily life.
1. Share Basic Facts About the Condition
If your coworkers see that you’re having a breakout and they now keep their distance, they may not know anything about psoriasis.
Some people don’t realize that psoriasis isn’t contagious, says Adelaide Hebert, MD, a dermatologist with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
And while that’s certainly frustrating, you may want to tell them you have a chronic condition, one that no one else can “catch.” “Some people may find that reassuring,” she says.
2. Know Your Rights
Worried about what your boss may think? Just know that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are legally obligated to provide reasonable accommodations to people who have certain disabilities. If your psoriasis (or psoriatic arthritis) is interfering with your ability to work, you may be protected under this rule.
That means you have every right to request time off to see a doctor or ask to work from home occasionally (or full-time) if you’re able to do your job that way.
3. Ask Your Employer to Provide the Right Equipment to Meet Your Needs
If you can’t hold a particular tool or type on a computer, ask your boss if there are any devices you can use instead.
It’s also worth remembering that, under the ADA, your employer can’t withhold a promotion, raise, or other benefit from you based on your psoriasis diagnosis.
If you think you are experiencing discrimination at work, reach out to your company’s human resources department.
4. Take Care of Your Nails and Shake Hands With Confidence
Nail psoriasis can cause the skin underneath the nail bed to look yellow, pink, or brown. Some people may also develop pits on the nails. In other cases, the nail can become thin enough to pull away from the nail bed, says Dr. Hebert.
“When people are out shaking hands and making business affiliations, unattractive nails can be very problematic in the business or service realms,” she says.
If your job allows it, you may be able to wear nail polish, which can hide some of the symptoms of nail psoriasis, she says. You can also gently buff the nails, which helps hide the pits or discoloration, and wear gloves when you’re washing dishes to avoid drying out the nails or the surrounding skin.
5. Boost Vitamin D by Getting Some Sun
Haven’t seen the sun in days? You could be running low in vitamin D. Vitamin D is sometimes used to treat psoriasis and can be found in some psoriasis prescription medications.
One problem for people living with psoriasis is that they are more likely than those without it to be deficient in vitamin D.
Joanna Briggs, RN, in the Philadelphia area, says it was difficult to manage psoriasis while working 12-hour shifts at a hospital. Now that she works from home, she tries to go outside to soak up some sun. You can get sufficient vitamin D from 10 minutes of sun exposure.
When the itching gets too intense, Briggs says, she uses “a lukewarm washcloth to pat the area, and then I apply a topical ointment.”
7. Use the Right Products to Treat Scalp Psoriasis
Psoriasis has emotional and psychological symptoms as well, such as self-consciousness, embarrassment, and even shame. “If the psoriasis is on any visible skin surface, it can be very challenging,” says Hebert.
Even if you work from home, chances are you may have to be on video calls every now and then. Whether you get face time with your colleagues at the office or through a screen, you may worry that your scalp psoriasis is visible to coworkers. “People who don’t understand the disease may think the person doesn’t wash their hair as often as they should,” says Hebert.
To combat the plaques that appear on the head and scalp, wash your hair once or twice per week and use a scalp moisturizer right after showering.
If you have scalp psoriasis, try to be gentle when you use shampoo, because rubbing and scratching the skin can make your symptoms worse. You may also want to use a scale softener that contains salicylic acid, which helps soften the patches and allows certain psoriasis medications to work on the skin more effectively.
8. Carry a Water Bottle With You to Stay Hydrated
Some people, including Briggs, notice that when they don’t drink enough water, their skin feels drier, too. You can combat dehydration by drinking a large bottle of water every day.
“I bought a gallon-size jug of water and started filling it up and taking it with me,” she says. “If I didn’t want to bring it into the office, I’d get a 20 ounce water bottle and drink a minimum of three of them per day.”
9. Manage Workplace Stress
You can’t always avoid a high-pressure sales meeting or a down-to-the-wire deadline, but finding ways to de-stress outside of work can lower your overall anxiety levels.
If you need a little help getting started, try downloading an app like Calm or Headspace, which offer guided meditation and relaxation sessions.
10. If You’re Unable to Work, Look Into Applying for Disability Benefits
Sometimes, psoriasis can severely limit a person’s ability to work as it can interfere with their ability to walk, stand, or use their hands. If that’s the case, you may qualify for disability benefits, either through Social Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
At times, navigating the system can be difficult. Organizations like the National Psoriasis Foundation can offer guidance on how to apply for both SSI and SSDI.
If you experience issues with your application, you may want to seek legal help.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Villacorta R et al. A Multinational Assessment of Work‐Related Productivity Loss and Indirect Costs From a Survey of Patients with Psoriasis. British Journal of Dermatology. September 1, 2020.
Orbai AM et al. Work Absenteeism and Disability Associated With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis in the USA — a Retrospective Study of Claims Data from 2009 to 2020. Clinical Rheumatology. July 21, 2021.
Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of Skincare Junkie. She is an accomplished cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist, specializing in leading-edge facial rejuvenation techniques, including injectable fillers and botulinum toxin injections, advanced laser procedures, noninvasive body contouring, and removing lumps and bumps with precision. She is an expert in the treatment and detection of medical conditions, including skin cancer, acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Dr. Rose believes in a comprehensive approach to skin health and incorporating a skin-care routine tailored specifically for each individual and utilizing a wide array of tools to target specific skin concerns.
Rose has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatology Surgery, and Pediatric Dermatology, and has been featured in numerous publications, including Vogue, Elle, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Self, Women’s Health, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Maria Masters is a contributing editor and writer for Everyday Health and What to Expect, and she has held positions at Men's Health and Family Circle. Her work has appeared in Health, on Prevention.com, on MensJournal.com, and in HGTV Magazine, among numerous other print and digital publications.
